Page 5 - EAP Manual
P. 5

Early Adolescent DBT Program RULES & EXPECTATIONS
Program members and parents or caregivers are responsible for knowing and following program rules and expectations involved with treatment. Skillful, respectful, and effective behaviors are expected at program even if not specifically acknowledged within this document. Disregard for any of the following rules is grounds for potential discharge.
Attendance—Attendance is a life skill. Program members and parents or caregivers are expected to attend all sessions. They are to arrive on time and stay until dismissed. Families will inform facilitators of absences prior to the start of program that day. Inform the therapist as early as possible when there are planned absences (i.e., vacation, camp, etc.) Attendance less than 85% will result in an attendance contract. Attendance contracts are used agency- wide to address attendance concerns and offer supportive accountability so members are more capable of reaching their treatment goals. The policy allows for misses due to illness and emergencies. There are no “excused” absences. Members will be discharged if they do not call and do not show up for three consecutive sessions. Inform your therapist if and when you are running late and make this call before 5PM.
If you miss more than 1 out of 6 sessions, you will be put on an attendance contract. While on contract, you must attend 5 out of the next 6 sessions to end the contract. If you miss more than 1/6 while on an attendance contract, you will move to a discharge contract. Like the attendance contract, you will need to attend 5/6 of these sessions. If you miss more than 1 session, you can be discharged from program.
Confidentiality—What is shared in program stays in program—Program members and parents or caregivers are expected to keep all information learned in program private. Information pertaining to other members and program issues cannot be discussed outside of program. This includes program breaks. Therapists are required by law to act on behalf of all members if there are reports of maltreatment, neglect, and safety concerns if a member cannot commit to safety.
Safety—If safety concerns are something your adolescent experiences, they will be addressed. Safety is the primary goal of therapy. Therapists will involve parents or caregivers if safety issues increase and/or if a member appears to pose as a risk to himself/herself. This includes calling 911 and using medical transportation services to drive the member to the hospital. Parents or caregivers will never be allowed to transport members when they are unable to commit to safety when at program. Members and parents or caregivers are encouraged to call 911 if approached by a peer who appears unsafe. Every client will create a Coping Plan. It is helpful to keep this plan accessible at all times. This plan (and other coping skills) will guide commitments for safety when applicable.
Communication with parent & caregivers—In effort to provide open and transparent communication, the therapist will discuss with members what information will be shared with their parents or caregivers and vice versa. The therapist will encourage members to approach parents or caregivers in attempts to self-advocate as well as facilitate communication between members and parents or caregivers as needed. Not only will this foster trust between the member and the therapist, it will also lead to more effective communication between the member and his/her parents or caregivers. Program therapists will coordinate quarterly family check in sessions to review progress and areas for growth.
Coordination within the treatment team— A signed release of information by the program member’s parents or caregivers will allow the therapist to communicate with identified team members about treatment. Members are required to participate in individual therapy at least twice monthly and family therapy as needed. Individual therapists can be requested at MHS; however, programming is designed to coordinate with existing individual therapists. The therapist will regularly contact team members to share treatment-related information in effort to provide effective treatment and promote for consistency.
Relationships with other members—Members and parents or caregivers can use each other for support outside of program; however, it is expected that these encounters are skillful and respectful of each other’s boundaries. Members cannot engage in unskillful behavior together. Members are not allowed to have private relationships with each other. What members talk about and/or do together outside of program must be able to be brought back into
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