Model
Behavioral Health Services bases treatment on Boys Town Psychoeducational Treatment Model (PEM), a bio-social approach. PEM creates an atmosphere where medical, psychological and social treatment of youth can be coordinated and interactions between youth and each treatment professional are enhanced. Youth spend each day with highly trained and supervised staff. By enhancing interactions between youth and treatment professionals, PEM helps youth attain their treatment goals. All staff members actively teach appropriate behavior to replace individual problem behavior identified when a youth enters the program. Individuals also are taught various self-control options to be used in times of stress or in situations where youth have historically engaged in inappropriate coping behavior.
Plan
From the time of admission, staff assess each youth in order to gather critical information for inclusion into the initial treatment plan. Within seven days, a multidisciplinary team, led by the medical director/psychiatrist, develops a comprehensive treatment plan. Members of the team include the youth, his/her family or legal guardian, therapist, educator, nurse and a representative of the programs' technicians. Appropriate representatives from the youth’s community such as clergy, therapists, case managers and juvenile justice authorities are included. Secure, web-based technology is provided by Boys Town, allowing real-time participation by team members from the youth’s community and for counseling and therapy with the youths and their families.
The team bases the individual's treatment plan on six areas:
- Psychiatric/medical diagnosis
- Family therapy
- Individual and group therapy
- Academics
- Life Skills
- Qualitative and quantitative treatment data
Throughout their stay, individuals receive carefully coordinated treatment in each of the six areas. The treatment team regularly evaluates progress and revises the plan based on the youth’s progress. The treatment program provides a well-rounded, comprehensive curriculum, including:
- Life skills building
- Individual family psychotherapy
- Group psychotherapy
- Health/gender groups
- Drug and alcohol prevention education
- Social skills building
- Therapeutic recreation
Integrated within the PEM Model, these activities help youth gain the self-assurance and social interaction skills essential to succeed outside the program.