Residential Treatment—Specialized Services

Specialized Services at Hillside’s Snell Farm Campus provide a collaborative, trauma-informed approach to residential treatment for youth who have engaged in or been exposed to sexual harm.

About this Program

Sexually inappropriate/harmful behaviors in adolescents are often a traumatic response to severe life circumstances, such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, mental illness, and/or family substance abuse. With developmentally appropriate interventions, these youth can overcome trauma, develop new skills, and heal relationships.

Hillside’s Specialized Services provide intensive, residential group care for male youth ages 12 to 21 (grade 6 and above) who may be either non-adjudicated or court-adjudicated for having caused sexual harm. Their treatment needs are determined upon examination of their offense history, history of aggressive acts (including fire setting, animal abuse, property destruction, and violence towards others), AWOL history, previous response to treatment and overall risk to the community.

The mission of Specialized Care is to provide services that are based upon best practice and evidence-based research dedicated to stopping sexually harmful behavior, and healing and strengthening the lives of children and families. The treatment process focuses on providing a warm, non-judgmental and strength-based environment. Individual and family therapy focus on the dynamics and conditions that allowed the harm to occur. Clinical work is individualized to meet the unique needs of each family. These approaches are derived from the Hillside Philosophy of Service—to provide care that is family-driven, youth-guided, trauma-informed and culturally competent.

The Snell Farm Campus is located on a 177-acre farm. Youth reside in 1 of 2 units with individual bedrooms in a home-like setting.

Education Services—Hillside campus schools, approved by the New York State Education Department, provide therapeutic education service for our students. Guided by each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), daily instruction is designed to maximize each student’s ability to learn academically and socially. Working collaboratively with families and youth, the goal is to help students to improve their academic achievement and emotional coping skills so that they can return to their school districts.

The Snell Farm school provides special education services in classrooms with a ratio of 8 students to 1 teacher and 2 teaching assistants. Classrooms may be self-contained or departmentalized by subject area, to meet students’ educational needs. All coursework meets New York State standards, with a core instructional program that includes English, social studies, science, mathematics, physical education and the arts. Students have access to school guidance counseling and a school psychologist for testing and educational planning and recommendations. Clinical services are also provided. Speech/Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy are available as related services for those students who have been identified to receive these services by the Committee on Special Education (CSE). The education staff collaborates with students’ home school districts throughout placement and in preparation for transition.

Health Care Services—All children in residential care have access to health care services 24 hours a day. Our health care teams include highly trained personnel who can attend to most medical and psychiatric needs experienced by youth in residential treatment. Our licensed clinical professionals include Registered Dieticians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Psychiatric and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Pediatricians and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists. These individuals work collaboratively with program staff to ensure high-quality health care is provided. Strong relationships are maintained with local hospitals and medical providers when higher levels of specialty medical, psychiatric or emergency care are needed.

Locations

Snell Farm Campus
7320 Snell Hill Road
Bath NY 14810

Contact Information

This Program Supported by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the New York State Education Department, local school districts and local counties.