Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment

Vanier has provided effective residential treatment services since 1965. Today, we offer three programs:

Short-Term Treatment Program (free):

about the program

who is eligible?

where is it located?

what is the treatment philosophy of this program?

 

Medium-Term Treatment Program (fee for service)

about the program

who is eligible?

where is it located?

what is the treatment philosophy of this program?

 

Long Term Residential Treatment Program (Cornerstone)

about the program

who is eligible?

where is it located?

what is the treatment philosophy of this program?

 

Short-Term Treatment Program (free)

This program is fully funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. This program is divided into 3 phases and each phase lasts 3 months:

Phase 1: Getting Started - We work with the family and child to prepare for admission to residence, including developing goals.

Phase 2: Residence - in this phase, the child may be in residence 7 days per week, 5 days per week, 3 days per week, or sleeping at home but in the program from 8am-8pm.

Phase 3: Moving Home - the child moves back home and we work with the family to support this transition

Vanier offers a specialized day treatment/school program for children who require it. Family therapy, parent skill building, psychological consultation, psychiatric consultation, nursing, and occupational therapy are all available to children and their families in this program. Child & Youth Counsellors staff the residence 24/7.

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Who is eligible?

This program is for children age 7-13 whose presenting problems may include: peer problems; aggression; depression; withdrawal; suicidal thoughts and behaviours; trauma due to family disruption, violence, substance abuse, or child abuse; anxiety; fire involvement; and significant school problems. Usually, these children are living at home but are being unsuccessful at home, at school, and in the community.

All referrals for this program must go through the Children's Services Coordination Network.

Children who live in London-Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, Huron-Perth, Kent, Essex and Gray-Bruce counties are eligible.

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Where is it located?

The three residential units are located on the main campus of Vanier at 871 Trafalgar Street in London. [link to photo tour]. A school (grades 1-8) is located on the property. All of Vanier's clinical resources are also located at this address.

Children in the short-term and medium-term programs live together in two residences.

What is the Treatment Philosophy of this program?

This service is a family and child-centered multidisciplinary resource that believes  children and families can change in a positive manner when they believe in their own strengths.  

We believe we need to work in partnership with parents to set clear and realistic goals and measurable outcomes. We believe children need to be with their families whenever possible and offer individualized treatment programs that support this.

Vanier believe in achieving goals. We use 'best practice' treatment approaches in this program, including cognitive-behavioral (CBT), parent skill building (Triple 'P'), solution-focused family therapy.

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Medium-Term Treatment Program (fee for service):

This residential program specializes in working with children who have serious complex multiple needs.  It offers a community-based residential stabilization, assessment and treatment program that supports the transition of the child to a long-term placement.  Average length of stay ranges from 6-12 months.

Who is eligible?

This program is designed to meet the needs of children who are: 

  • 7-14 years experiencing acute distress, related to longstanding attachment issues and evidence of at least one of the following:  conduct disorder; oppositional defiant disorder; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; anxiety disorder; or depressive disorder;
  • living in a foster or group care setting, and are at high risk of experiencing a placement breakdown;
  • being admitted to care in an emergency crisis situation and who cannot be placed in a foster resource because of demonstrated at risk behaviour. 

Catchment Area:  Southwest Region, MCYS

Referral Procedure:  If the child resides within the CSCN area, then a CSCN recommendation is required.  An expedited process can be initiated by contacting:

Sandi Evans, CSCN at 519.438.4783 or sandievans@cscn.on.ca

OR 

Gillian Kerr, Vanier Children's Services at 519.433.3101 x 126 or gkerr@vanier.com.

If the child resides outside of the CSCN area, then contact Gillian Kerr, Vanier, to determine the appropriate procedure.

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Where is it located?

The three residential units are located on the main campus of Vanier at 871 Trafalgar Street in London.  [link to photo tour}.  A school (grades 1-8) is located on the property.  All of Vanier's clinical resources are also located at this address.

Children in the short-term and medium-term programs live together in two residences.

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What is the Treatment Philosophy of this program?

This program, in partnership with family, foster family, friends, school, CAS and the community at large, provides support, skill building, nurturance, and a hopeful future for the vulnerable children placed in our residence.

We recognize the importance of family support for each child, regardless of their situation, and we work to engage and develop a circle of community partners committed to the ongoing support of each child and family.

We provide effective strength-based treatment and support for complex emotional, behavioural, psychological and psychiatric needs.

This medium stay program offers a rich, supportive environment where daily living provides opportunities for growth and development.  Children in the program learn by doing.  Emphasis is placed on the individual child's emotional, social and cognitive competencies.  Modalities of therapy are supported by best practices.

The milieu environment creates consistent routine, structure and activities, thus providing a source of security, stability and comfort for the child.  Children are taught the skills necessary to develop positive relationships with peers and adults.

Resiliency research emphasizes the importance of educational success, therefore, a key component of our program, focuses on providing opportunities for successful educational experiences for each child.  This may include support in the community school or a placement in one of our specialized day treatment programs.

Many of the children have longstanding attachment issues and experience acute distress during transitions.  This program offers transitional planning and support to help the child manage future moves.

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Parent Training
  • Skills Training (problem solving, social skills, affect regulation)
  • Ecological Approach to Treatment
  • Pharmacological Treatment

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Long Term Residential Treatment Program (Cornerstone)

For children who have complex trauma histories and multiple placement interruptions, including separation from their family, long term residential treatment can provide them with the safety and continuity of relationships to deal with their traumatic past and help them to integrate and manage their feelings and behaviours in order to be successful in a more family-like setting.

These children often have serious relationship-destroying behaviours, such as fire-setting, smearing, sexual behaviours, and aggression.  Placing a child in a family-like setting that is unable to cope with these bheaivours will lead to placement breakdown.  We believe it is better to treat and reduce these behaviours and to develop a management plan that would support these children to be successful in a family-like setting.  Length of residential stay may vary from 2-3 years.

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Who is eligible?

This specialized residential treatment program is designed for a small number (6) of children ages 7-13 whose treatment needs are simply beyond what can be provided within a family or foster family setting.  These children require a longer residential treatment intervention to prepare them for successful integration into their biological family, a kin-care setting, or a foster family.  Many of the children will come from shorter term residential programs where the need for longer term involvement has been identified.  These are the children who have experienced multiple placement breakdowns; ongoing rejection by potential placements; and require consistent and predictable implementation of strategies/interventions over a long period of time to support improvement intheir emotional and behavioural well-being.

Catchment area:  Southwest Region, MCYS

Referral Procedure:  If the child resides within the CSCN area, then a CSCN recommendation is required.  An expedited process can be initiated by contacting:

Sandi Evans, CSCN at 519.438.4783 or sandievans@cscn.on.ca

OR

Gillian Kerr, Vanier Chidlren's Services at 519.433.3101 x 126 or gkerr@vanier.com If the child resides outside of the CSCN area, then contact Gillian Kerr, Vanier, to determine the appropriate procedure.

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Where is it located?

Cornerstone is located in cottage 3 at the main campus of Vanier at 871 Trafalgar Street in London.  [link to photo tour]  a school (grades 1-8) is located on the property.  All of Vanier's clinical resources are also located at this address.

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What is the Treatment Philosophy of this program?

The overall objective of the program is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children with complex multiple needs to stabilize their behaviour and emotions and to develop and implement a comprehensive treatment strategy which will prepare the children to function successfully in a less restrictive environment.  Focus will be on addressing their complex trauma needs and developing skills that support each child's resilience - emotion management, learning, problem solving, and social skills.

Individual treatment plans may include individual and group therapy as appropriate (trauma counselling, witnessing woman abuse, sexual behaviour problems, fire setting).  Family therapy or parent counselling/teaching may also be provided.  Transitional resources will be available to support the child when they leave the program.  The multi-disciplinary team will consist of child and youth counsellors, child and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse and special education teachers.

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