Frequently Asked Questions

Services are varied and individualized for each youth/adolescent in conjunction with treatment goals and objectives.

Supportive services provided typically include some combination of the following:

Support during:

• School events (i.e. concerts, science fairs, etc.)
• PPT meetings
• Extra-curricular activities (i.e. sports, competitions, etc.)
• Court appearances
• Doctor/Dentist visits

Assistance with:

• Vocational training
• Household chores
• Work on personal hygiene
• Homework completion

Help to establish community involvement in clubs and activities such as:

• Summer Camp
• Bowling Leagues
• 4-H
• Dance class
• Boy/Girl Scouts
• Extra-curricular activities
• School Band
• Cooking
• Music Lessons
• Sports teams
• Sailing
• And other appropriate activities the adolescent express interest in

TEEG’s I AM Program is a therapeutic program capable of handling adolescents in the community with mental illness and behavioral health issues; however, a diagnosis is not necessary to participate in the program. Our program is designed to provide interventions, positive role-modeling, and to establish effective community supports for children living in community settings.

An adolescent who is likely to be successful in the I AM Program may display the following characteristics:

• An adolescent who is not attending school regularly
• An adolescent who has difficulty with parent relationships
• An adolescent who experiences conflict in school
• An adolescent who struggles to engage in community activities
• An adolescent who is unsuccessful in peer relationships
• An adolescent who isolates themselves away from those who care about them
• An adolescent who has suffered great loss and needs a positive adult friend to talk to
• An adolescent who is transitioning between residences and needs a stable
  person to rely on
• An adolescent who lacks self-confidence
• An adolescent who has not found their own identity

• Thompson
• Putnam
• Pomfret
• Woodstock
• Killingly
• Plainfield
• Sterling
• Eastford
• Canterbury
• Brooklyn

A. If a placement is out of the 10 town service area, TEEG’s I AM Program does not provide mentoring services unless reunification within the 10 town service areas is imminent;

B. If a client is moved to a temporary placement outside of the 10 town area, the mentor will continue to provide services, regardless of residential location if mileage reimbursement is approved by the referring agency;

C. If a client moves outside the 10 town service area once services have been established, the mentor will continue to provide limited service to the client in their new community to help transition the client to similar services within the new community.

Referrals can be made from a variety of sources each of which also provides funding for the service requested. Referral sources typically include DCF, Systems of Care, School Systems and the Juvenile Justice System. Please use the contact information is listed below.

TEEG
Kelly Piper,
IAM Therapeutic Support Program Manager
P.O. Box 664
65 Main St.
North Grosvenordale, CT 06255

Phone: (860) 923-3458
Fax: (860) 923-5770
E-mail: kellypiperteeg@yahoo.com

Individuals and/or parents can initiate a referral through one of the the following funding agencies:

1. DCF (contact the adolescent’s case worker)
2. School (contact special education services)
3. Court (contact the juvenile probation officer)
4. Systems of Care (contact care coordinator)

Once a completed program referral form is received by the program manager, the information will be reviewed and the family will be contacted to schedule an individual in-home assessment:

Following the completion of a comprehensive intake assessment and admission to the program, an individualized treatment plan will be developed by a multidisciplinary team member (master’s level program staff, clinical psychologist, and therapeutic support staff) and will be submitted along with a preliminary service plan and corresponding financial contract to the referral source. Upon approval of the treatment plan and financial contract, services will begin.

The time it takes to begin service varies with each case and is dependent upon a number of factors. Usually two to three weeks from the time of the assessment until services begin.

Each case is designed to meet the needs of the individual. The actual number of hours a mentor spends with an adolescent each week is dependent on the client’s specific needs and typically ranges between 5 and 8 hours per week. Each case can be contracted for a maximum of a 26 week period. Extensions of service may be approved if it is determined to be in the best interest of the adolescent and agreed upon by the referring agency. The rate charged for service is $40/hour.

Activities that therapeutic support staff and participating adolescents engage in together include but are not limited to:

Recreational community based activities:

• Therapeutic sailing
• Therapeutic horseback riding program
• Hiking
• Laser Tag
• Bowling
• Sporting events
• Community events
• Community volunteering- animal shelters, habitat for humanity, daycare centers
• Batting cages
• Library visits
• Group field trips

Vocational activities:

• Independent living skills: banking, shopping, laundry, accessing public transportation, etc.
• Access to drivers education/obtaining license
• Registering to vote
• Researching college opportunities
• Navigating application processes
• Cooking skills
• Job Interviews

Support during:

• School events (i.e. PPT meetings, science fairs)
• Extra-curricular activities (i.e. sports events, recitals, competitions)
• Court appearances

Home visits to:

• Work on personal care
• Help with homework
• Assist with household chores
• Help clean/organize bedrooms

The length of time the adolescent remains involved in the I AM Therapeutic Support Program is dependent on the adolescent’s needs. Most units of service are between 16 and 26 weeks long. At that end of that time period time, the mentor, the family, the Program Director, and the funding source collaborate to discuss either discharge plans and or an extension of service request.

TEEG therapeutic support staff are motivated individuals with knowledge of adolescent mental health and family dynamics. TEEG therapeutic support staff meets the educational requirements of having a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or closely related field or have significant life experience.

 

All staff employed at TEEG in the TSS program must meet the criteria of the DCF credentialing process. This includes a clean record with the Department of Public Safety and a background check from DCF. Once hired, TEEG provides weekly supervision to all TSS staff with an active caseload, with clinical oversight from a licensed child psychologist. All TSS staff has 24 hour a day / 7 day a week access to the clinical team who oversee this program. Additionally, TEEG provides many opportunities for professional development in the area of child/adolescent mental health and family psychology.