(1) THE GOALS OF Q.C.S.     

* Implement specific short and long term plans that meet the unique requirements of the   youth placed within the residence.

* Maintain a supportive and caring home environment, with emphasis on basic life skills and positive interaction, in which a child can stabilize.

* Encourage socially acceptable attitudes and behaviour, while promoting self-esteem, to enable youth to function well in the community.

* Ensure equitable programming with service that is racially-sensitive to enhance the continuity of cultural heritage void of discrimination.

The focus of Quest is on the youth's need to become a confident and able participant in society. Given the stability of a home environment, coupled with expectations and consequences that are clear and reasonable, youth may mature and prepare themselves for the responsibilities of independence.   

The children are availed every suitable opportunity to involve themselves in activities within the community and the home, with emphasis on the need to take responsibility for their actions and to maintain a positive attitude. Freedoms are given, in both the community and residence, commensurate with what the youth can effectively handle.

Frequent one-on-one interaction between youth and staff provides the children with the individual attention required to aid in the development and maintenance of positive relationships. 

Encouragement to conduct oneself in an acceptable fashion is consistent and children are rewarded for daily successes; conversely, the youth are confronted when their behaviour is deemed questionable or unacceptable.

Individual case management and progress monitoring plans are established for each child in the residence. These individual plans, involving the residence, school, community and the youth's family, are re-assessed on a regular basis. Case conferencing with the Social Worker, House Parent and support staff is executed in accordance with Ministry Guidelines and Regulations.                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                 

(2) Anti- Racism Statement

Quest Children's Services acknowledges the prevalence of racism in society at large and the inherent non-productive and negative effects. Therefore, in regard to hiring procedures, induction of residents and the implementation of programming, discriminatory attitudes and behaviour are deemed unacceptable.

Acceptance of racially diverse communities and the equality between human beings and their opportunities is understood as a principle to be taught and adhered to.

Definitions: (Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat.)

Racism is a system in which one group of people exercises abusive power over others on the basis of skin colour and racial heritage; a set of implicit or explicit beliefs, erroneous assumptions and actions based upon an ideology of inherent superiority of one racial or ethnic group over another. Racism is manifested within organizational and institutional structures and programs as well as within individual thought or behaviour patterns.

Anti-racism is a process that acknowledges the existence of systemic racism including institutional and societal and, through policies and practices, seeks actively to identify, challenge and eliminate racism in all its various forms wherever they exist.

(3) Physical Breakdown

Quest Children's Services is a residential program for youth in southern Ontario and is located approximately 90min. east of Toronto. The primary residence is situated on 42 acres of forest and fields with a trout creek at the back of the property. The residence has over 6000 square feet of living space, with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, providing ample recreation space both inside and outside the home. The children have full use of the assorted games tables, computers, video games & satellite T.V.                              Further, the facility offers an aquatic education program in its swimming pool and a woodworking program in a well-equipped workshop on site.                                                           

Quest is a parent model residence designed for long-term placement and is staffed full-time with a child & youth worker and an educational support worker.   Each full time support staff provides 40hours of program support per week. The educational support worker is in place to provide each resident with support in their education, both academically & behaviouraly. This support is accomplished through regular communication with the school & the resident's individual teachers, via the daily agenda, as well as periodic meetings with the individual teachers, vice-principals & the guidance department. To date this program has been very successful for the residents in this program providing more successes in their individual academic classes, resulting in an increased self-esteem, creating a more behaviouraly stable child. The educational support worker also doubles as the program recreational director during school breaks & holidays, providing the residents with a variety of recreational activities designed to further their integration into the community, allowing the residents to have the friends they are developing in the community to join them in these activities as well as on mini-vacations, which results in the resident's being invited on similar activities with their friends families, again furthering the need for the child to feel a part of the community in which they live.

              The Life Skills/Child & Youth Worker is responsible for developing some of the many skills required to get started in the world in which we live, including but not limited to daily household chores & responsibilities, the creation & maintenance of a Life Book, containing photographs, report cards, sports & academic awards to name a few. This worker is also responsible for helping the residents obtain a Social Insurance Number, create a resume, fill out employment applications, search out & obtain employment as well as the necessary skills to present to an employer a positive image of oneself, through proper speech & dress. The Life Skills worker is also responsible for teaching the residents skills such as laundry & cooking. Every couple of months each resident is responsible for a major meal, which they have to design, create a shopping list, go to the grocery store to purchase the necessary items, prepare & cook the meal as well as the clean-up after the meal. Again the residents are encouraged to invite a significant person to join the house for this meal. The area of Life Skills is a wide and varied one, though the above skills are some of the most basic & necessary, the program is not limited to these.                                        

        

                    

(4) Service Objectives

The service objectives emphasize physical and mental well-being as the avenue              to replacing maladaptive behaviour with social competence.

The focus of the program at Q.C.S. is on Formal Education & Life Skills.                     The program utilizes the local schools, with the aid of an Educational Support Worker, and a wide variety of programs & activities to promote social growth and the development of supportive interpersonal relationships.                                                                                  

In view of the importance of these adolescent years, additional program enhancement includes:

                  

·        Intensive efforts to integrate youth into community.

·        Life skills group program.

·        Access to Section 19 classrooms in Northumberland Board.

·        Auxiliary staff to provide:

                                                - support in school,

                                                            - community based recreation leader,

                                                            - crisis intervention,

                                                - support for group therapy.

*    Individual psychotherapy provided by a registered psychologist.

*    Group psychotherapy provided by a registered psychologist.

*    Psychological assessments.

*    Psychological consultation.

                               

[Psychological services are provided through Beckett Kitcher & Associates of Belleville.]

           *                                     *                                              *                      *

(5) Cultural Preservation & Programming

The service objectives of Q.C.S. encompass the responsibilities of preserving a child's culture, religion and language. The planning process acknowledges the significance of one's heritage and continued efforts are made to assure related services and programs.

In regard to a child of Native status contact will be made with the Native Child and Family Services.

  

(6) Youth Served /Length of Stay

Children (male) placed with Quest are eight to fourteen years of age and may stay until they are eighteen or, if special circumstances warrant, extended care may be provided. The length of a youth's stay is determined in consultation with the youth, their worker and, often, their parents/guardians.                                                                                                    

The program is not equipped to deal with disorders, such as pyromania, highly aggressive behaviour and drug/alcohol dependency, nor children with serious sexual offences or an extensive Y.O.A. history.  

                  

(7) Family Involvement

Where family contact is approved, youth are encouraged to maintain regular correspondence with their family through the phone, computer and letters.  Q.C.S. will arrange visits and, when requested by the referring agency, participate in family meetings.

The youth's family are invited to visit the residence and, whenever possible, be involved in the planning and treatment process.

The importance of family and family contact are integral to the development of the youth's identity and discourse regarding the family situation is encouraged.

Parents may participate in the decision making process for their child during placement, plan of care and plan of care reviews.

Youth who do not have access to immediate family are encouraged to maintain contact with close friends and relatives of the family with whom a past relationship was established.

(8) Plan for Family

The plan for the family is developed as part of the child's plan of care and clearly outlines family service planning, relationships, difficulties, cultural preservation,     access and visitation.

The plan is designed to:

      

(1)        preserve and develop child/family relations,

(2)        facilitate family contact and correspondence,

(3)        enable the family to recognize and involve the child as a continuing family member,

(4)        assist parent(s) in understanding the child's difficulties,

(5)        work through family difficulties and exercise legal rights and responsibilities involving the child's best interests,

(6)        facilitate return of the child to their natural family.

   (9) Group Home Parent(s) and C&Y Staff

Staff at the residence will work closely with the natural family in developing positive relations and be vital:

·        in helping the youth work through family related difficulties within a stabilized environment,

·        to the support and assistance of youth when they experience traumatic situations,

·        in the recognition and encouragement of the youth's abilities and strengths.