Northern Childrens Services

NORTHERN CHILDREN'S SERVICES SUPPORTS THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, WHILE STABILIZING THEIR FAMILIES TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES.

INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES - IBHS PROVIDES SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND HOME-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FUNCTION IN A STANDARD SCHOOL SETTING. THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP THERAPY, CLASSROOM SUPPORT, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS ROLE MODELING, REDIRECTION, COACHING, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, OUR CARING IBHS STAFF HELP CHILDREN RECOGNIZE WHEN THEY ARE ESCALATING, CONTROL THEMSELVES, AND MOVE TO LESS INTENSIVE LEVELS OF CARE. NORTHERN CURRENTLY PROVIDES IBHS AT OVER 16 SCHOOLS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS.

CHILD WELFARE - NORTHERN'S CHILD WELFARE DIVISION COMPLEMENTS ITS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION, PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES TO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES, BOTH OFF AND ON OUR CAMPUS - PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OR ARE AT RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. OUR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES FOCUS ON THE PROTECTION, CARE, AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. (1) FOSTER CARE - OUR FOSTER CARE PARENTS GIVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH (AGES 0-21) WITH VARYING LEVELS OF EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS THE CARE, LOVE, AND NURTURING FAMILY ENVIRONMENT THEY NEED. CHANGE THE LIFE OF A CHILD. MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. FOSTER CARE INVOLVES THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN A SINGLE OR TWO-PARENT FAMILY. WE OFFER STRONG SUPPORT TO FOSTER PARENTS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO MEET THE CHILD OR YOUTH'S NEEDS AND PROVIDE A SAFE PATHWAY TO PERMANENCY. (2) ADOPTIONS - NORTHERN CHILDREN FACILITATES ADOPTIONS BETWEEN LOVING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO 21-YEARS-OLD. THE CHILDREN ARE EACH IN NEED OF SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENTS. (3) RETI-WRAP - THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUTH AT THE PHILADELPHIA JUVENILE JUSTICE SERVICES CENTER ("PJJSC") SCHOOL THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE, STRENGTH-BASED PROCESS THAT ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF YOUTH ARE ADDRESSED DURING THEIR TIME AT PJJSC.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - THE GOAL OF OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IS TO HELP CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE AND POSITIVE FUNCTIONING, WHICH WILL TRANSFER TO COMMUNITY, HOME, AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES GAIN NECESSARY SKILLS THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC, STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN A STABLE, CONSISTENT, AND INTERCONNECTED SERVICE SETTING. (1) EARLY INTERVENTION(EI) - NORTHERN'S EI PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOL AGED YOUTH WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND ABUSE. CURRICULUM-BASED GROUP PSYCHO-ED AND COUNSELING SESSIONS ARE PROVIDED. THE PROGRAM OPERATES IN SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS. (2) OUTPATIENT - WE SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH UP TO AGE 21 WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DEPRESSION, IMPULSIVITY, HYPERACTIVITY, TRAUMA, ANXIETY, AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRISTS AND THERAPISTS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND PSYCHIATRIC SUPPORT IN A SAFE, CARING, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT USING MULTIPLE, EFFECTIVE. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES SUCH AS TRAUMATIC, ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL, OR SOCIAL STRESS. THE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM OFFERS INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND GROUP THERAPY DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD AND YOUTH. PARTICIPANTS WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH A THERAPIST TO WORK TOWARDS OVERALL WELL-BEING. (3) WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY (AN IBHS PROGRAM) - WELLNESS IS A THERAPEUTIC AFTERSCHOOL AND ALL-DAY SUMMER PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN 8 TO 14 YEARS OLD WITH BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DEPRESSION, IMPULSIVITY, HYPERACTIVITY, ANXIETY, AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ON-SITE ON OUR BEAUTIFUL SIX-ACRE CAMPUS, IN THE CHILD'S HOME, AND DURING PROGRAM-SPONSORED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY OUTINGS. MOST STUDENTS REFERRED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS TYPICALLY DISPLAY BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES THAT MANIFEST AS MULTIPLE SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS, POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, IMPULSIVITY, AND DIFFICULTY RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY TO SCHOOL STRUCTURE AND AUTHORITY FIGURES. ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF WELLNESS IS TO DECREASE BEHAVIORS THAT INTERFERE WITH CLASSROOM LEARNING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND IN DOING SO, IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. THE PROGRAM OFFERS GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, HOMEWORK HELP, AND TUTORING. (4) YOUTH PROMOTING PEACE PROGRAM (YP3) - YP3 ENGAGES GENDER AND AGE-SPECIFIC GROUPS (AGES 14-17 AND 18-24) ONCE WEEKLY OVER 12 WEEK PERIODS. YOUTH PROMOTING PEACE PROGRAM (YP3) ENGAGES YOUTH AGES 14-24 RESIDING IN PHILADELPHIA IN ACTIVITIES THAT AIM TO DECREASE EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA SYMPTOMS WHILE BUILDING LIFE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS DESIGNED TO BROADEN THEIR EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES AND POSSIBILITIES.