Program Details
Simtiar Services Inc. pride itself on the ability and philosophy that services for children and youth need to be adaptable regardless of the “type” of program they are placed in. The common focus of the program is to provide continual guidance, support and teaching in a therapeutic setting while maintaining a supported family-based environment. The program is guided by a trauma informed and client centered approach, the Circle of Courage Model within a therapeutically based milieu. The program is guided by the Client-Centered and the Trauma Informed approaches. Additionally, the program will utilize the therapeutic philosophies of the Circle of Courage as guidance when working with Indigenous clients.
Description
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program believes in the importance of skilled and therapeutic intervention to stabilize complex referring issues; enhance the self-worth and dignity of each individual; and promote healing of childhood neglect, abuse and trauma using holistic values. Our guiding principle is to involve a non-institutional approach of joining family values, concrete treatment modalities with unconditional acceptance and guidance in a group living setting. Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program is committed to giving youth in care a home that will provide for their physical, social, educational, emotional, medical and cultural needs. Our concrete treatment modalities, through a Trauma Informed and Client Centered approach, with unconditional acceptance and guidance provides for passionate commitment to providing children with a home that will ensure their physical, social, educational, medical and cultural needs while continuing to maintain and support healthy connections with their family (if appropriate).
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program is guided by a strong philosophy with specific cultural influences. We believe that for a child to be healthy and strong the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of that child must be in balance. In caring for and teaching children, we must focus on these aspects. We are taught that the life skills as well as the emotional, physical, and spiritual development can be achieved by learning how to live from the land and embracing the cultural traditions. Learning these skills creates a strong sense of identity and builds self-esteem.
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program utilizes distinct healing (therapeutic) approaches to ensure that the children and their families (if applicable) served through our program are respected, involved and have the greatest potentials for learning and applying new skills. Our programs combine the Client-Centered Therapy (CCT) approach, the Circle of Courage healing model along with a Trauma Informed Approach which are all implemented into milieu-based therapy which emphasizes on engagement in meaningful activities of daily life, especially to enable or encourage participation in such activities in spite of impairments or limitations of the child or family. Additionally, Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program places high value and emphasis on the unique needs of culturally diverse clients and involves the Circle of Courage model as a theoretical framework for working with First Nations children, youth, and families.
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program can accommodate up to five (5) children and/or youth with complex needs in a crisis, short-term or long-term capacity. Our program, however, may provide residence to additional children should a referral of a sibling group occur and a temporary license permits the additional clients. We offer our group living program to envelop services required to assist in supporting and creating change for children and their families (if applicable) with children’s services statuses from apprehension through to reunification. Our approach is essential in the coordination of resources that, when done with professionalism, skill and integrity, support the development of skills to enhance their lives.
Our program is available to all children and youth, regardless of gender who are between birth (0) and eighteen (18) years.
Any bed, if available, can be accessed for short-term emergency placements while ensuring that placements can continue to serve longer term residents.
Youth are eligible for placement for the following reasons:
Long Term Care - Youth requiring shelter and care for a specific longer period of time until parents and/or family can resume responsibility
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Emergency Care - Youth directly from an abuse, neglect or other crisis situations may be referred to the program for safety and security until alternate living arrangements are established.
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Short Term Care - Youth requiring a transitional placement between one home to another (awaiting placement in foster home, repatriated child, etc.).
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For the purposes of Article 12 of the Contract, the following deliverables and intellectual property are subject to the provision:
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program has not yet opened and is aware that a program must be operational for six months prior to CAC accrediting. Once our program has been operational for three months, Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program will make application and be accredited within the year. Any documents (including policy and procedure, admission and intake forms, strategic and risk management plans) used in achieving and/or maintaining accreditation are the intellectual property of a third-party and cannot be released to other agencies by the funder.
SIMTIAR Service Inc. accepts referrals from Alberta Children Services – Regional authorities and Designated First Nations Agencies and/or other provincial children’s services authorities. Initially, contact is made with the Director or Team Leader to determine the appropriateness of the placement (contract or fee-for-service) and to ensure that the agency’s mandate is suitable.
Refer A Child
Position Qualifications
For the purposes of Article 10.1 of the Contract, the following employees, subcontractors, agents or positions (if any) are subject to the provisions of Article 10.1of the Contract.
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program has a comprehensive and trained staffing compliment specific to our culturally relevant programming. The basic qualifications required by each of the positions within the organization are specific to the role in which they fulfill. All direct care program staff will have the following training –
Within 24 hours of commencement:
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Access to and review of current policies and procedures;
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Duties and responsibilities contained within the position description.
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Orientation to clients needs, issues and cultural components.
Within 10 working days of commencement:
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Agency structure including mission /values, employee Code of Ethics, agency and program goals;
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Responsibilities regarding limits of authority, accountability and program commitment;
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Responsibilities to persons served (rights, growth planning, etc.);
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Approved behavior management strategies;
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Introduction to needs and issues of current client population;
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Universal precautions;
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Abuse protocol orientation and/or training
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Trauma informed approach to service delivery
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Medication administration and use of medical equipment;
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Facilities and personal safety (working alone, emergency procedures, etc.);
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Self-harm awareness and intervention
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Important contact persons related to client and employees.
Within 3 months of commencement:
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First Aid (renewable every three years)
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Medication administration training (renewable every three years)
Within 6 months of commencement:
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Suicide Intervention (renewable every three years)
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Self-harm awareness (renewable every three years)
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Non-violent Crisis Intervention (renewable every three years)
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Quality Improvement and Outcomes – if applicable (renewable every three years)
Within 9 months of commencement:
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Indigenous Awareness Training* (6 hours initially and 6 hours of annual on-going learning);
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Diversity/Cross Cultural Training (4 hours initially)
* Note: training applicable IF employee does not identify as Indigenous and/or if employee is not culturally informed or involved
Additional Contractor Responsibility (optional)
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program shall ensure that the following items are provided from funds as outlined in Schedule “B” – Direct Client Costs:
Nutritional Standards as set out in accordance with the Canada Food Guide and/or Canada’s Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit and Indigenous persons;
Staff to client ratio set at 1:3 unless otherwise required (with provision to increase to a 1:1 ratio when required) or requested by the Caseworker;
All transportation costs for children placed with the program (i.e. family visits, appointments, school, recreation, etc.) within city limits;
Maintaining clothing according to child welfare rates after admission
Maintain client’s belongings in accordance to clothing /items tracking process.
Spending allowance according to current Alberta Child & Youth Services rates;
Gifts, including birthday and Christmas, according to current Alberta Child & Youth Services rates;
Personal incidentals such as items required for hygiene, grooming, etc.;
Group recreational activities (i.e. swimming, movies, etc);
Public transportation through use of bus passes or bus tickets;
School supplies as required.
3.4 Additional Province Responsibility (optional)
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program shall require that the following items are provided by the children’s services authority:
Initial clothing to standard per the regional authority rates;
Any seasonal (winter, spring, summer or fall) clothing and periodic updates as required;
Medical/dental/optical services including any prescriptions or specialized equipment required;
Therapeutic and/or counseling services as identified in service planning and agreed to;
Individual recreational fees per annual regional authority rates;
Individual vacation fees per annual regional authority rates;
Transportation and supervision out of regional boundaries at the rate of $0.52/kilometer;
Additional staff if specific client requires for stabilization outside of normal ratio.
Client Information
Client Characteristics
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program is specifically designed to meet the needs of children with complex needs, including addictions, and of who would benefit from Trauma Informed and Client-Centered interventions in a group living environment. Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program is a blend of cultural and therapeutic philosophies to facilitate the most comprehensive support available to children with complex needs in this region. The program is funded through a contract or on a fee-for-service basis with Designated First Nations Agencies and/or Alberta Child & Family Services and is available on an emergent, short-term and/or long-term basis. The potential clients are of either gender, from birth (0) to eighteen (18) years and may be at-risk for developing maladaptive behaviors, are struggling with emotional/mental health concerns, and/or are unable to reside within their family due to impacting issues.
Referral
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program accepts referrals from Alberta Child & Youth Services – Regional authorities and Designated First Nations Agencies and/or other provincial children’s services authorities. Initially, contact is made with the Director or designates to determine the appropriateness of the placement (contract or fee-for-service) and to ensure that the agency’s mandate is suitable. If a referred person is appropriate to the mandate and eligibility criteria of Simtiar Services Inc., the following will apply:
Placement not immediately available:
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The Director and/or designate will gather relevant information regarding the referred child;
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A determination of intake timelines will be provided to the person making the referral;
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If appropriate, information for available community resources will be provided;
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The Director and/or designate will make contact with the person making the referral when a placement becomes available.
Unplanned/Emergency Placements:
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The Director and/or designate will gather as much relevant information as possible – specifically any information relating to the health and safety of the child (e.g. delegation of authority, treatment service number, conditions of contact with family, allergies, etc.);
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Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program will endeavor to obtain mandatory consents in order to provide services to child. Should the need arise for consents to be verbal in nature, authorization will be documented on the correct form including the person’s name that provided verbal consent;
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The Director and/or designate will arrange a formal Intake Meeting within 10 days of admission if client remains in the program.
Upon Intake:
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The Director and/or delegate will conduct pre-placement interviews with the child (if appropriate), case manager and family or other significant persons (if appropriate);
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An age and cognitive appropriate explanation and confirmation that the person served understands the reasons for admission to the program;
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An introduction to relevant program policies and procedures and the review of and consent to treatment including the signing of the intake package by client (if appropriate) and/or the guardian;
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The initial advisement of all rights relating to the child
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Providing the child and/or guardian with a written copy of program components
Entrance Criteria
Clients must have Alberta Child & Youth Services status with a current Referral and Evaluation (R&E).
Exit Criteria
When positive outcomes have been obtained and our youth have achieved the growth and skills needed through our program, a transition plan will be created to support the successful integration into the community, with family and/or an alternative placement within or outside of the agency.
Simtiar Services Inc.- group living program understands that unplanned discharges may be encountered, and services may not be completed as desired. Should such a situation occur (through AWOL, determination of a more suitable placement, etc.), documentation including a discharge report and program supports available which may be available to the child after services are terminated will be created. This information will be forwarded to the Children’s Services worker and/or the guardian (if appropriate). Further release of this information will require the guardian’s consent.
All discharges from the program require a discharge conference. This shall involve all facility staff, the placement agency worker(s), parent(s), the child and any relevant others. In instances where the child is discharged while AWOL, the conference may be held after the fact.
An unsuccessful discharge may result from:
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Being AWOL longer than the approved number of days (re: waiver form).
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Non-cooperation from a worker(s) to the point where the placement is no longer working.
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Violent/aggressive behavior towards staff, other residents or self beyond the capabilities of our program.
A successful discharge is one that is planned in accordance with service goals. The basis for this planning is the Healing Plan (service plan), which is a joint effort between the program, the placing agency, and the resident. The Healing Plan is done quarterly so that everyone is working towards the same discharge goals throughout placement.
A planned discharge usually involves preplacement, visiting, separation, and planning. This process requires sensitivity and sufficient time as the resident is separating from some very significant relationships. Visiting back to the facility shall be encouraged and supported where the plan is practical and realistic. Child Care staff and/or the Director may continue in a supportive role with the discharged resident through telephone or in-community contact if of benefit to the child and family (if appropriate).