Fresh Start
An Alternative Education and Partial Hospital Program for At-Risk Elementary Students
The Fresh Start Program, a collaborative venture between Racine Unified School District and Wheaton Franciscan Mental Health & Addiction Services, concentrates on short-term behavioral interventions in working with students with chronic behavioral interventions in working with students with chronic behavioral difficulties in grades 1-5 or ages 6-11. This unique program provides an alternative education site for children with serious emotional, psychological and/or behavioral difficulties who require more intense and structured treatment than what is available in the traditional school and outpatient counseling settings.
Collaborative Professional Team
In an intimate, secure, educational environment at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints, a collaborative support team of mental health and educational professionals addresses the extensive needs of these at-risk students. The interdisciplinary team consists of the following staff:
- child psychiatrist
- clinical therapist
- occupational therapist
- nursing staff
- teachers
- educational assistants
Curriculum and Behavioral Education
Students placed in Fresh Start will benefit from highly structured, developmentally appropriate classes in reading, language arts, math, fine arts and physical education. Self-control and communication skills are strongly emphasized throughout the curriculum. Depending on individual student and family requirements, services will be incorporated into the child’s daily schedule that may include: individual, group and family therapy; primary nursing services; medication management; occupational and recreational therapy and referral to other services such as speech or physical therapy. The treatments of students enrolled in Fresh Start will be under the supervision of a child psychiatrist.
Fresh Start can accommodate 14 students at one time; one class consisting of students in grades K-3 with the other class composed of students in grades 4-5. Upon completion of the program, students will be re-integrated into their mainstream classroom. Tracking and follow-up services are provided by the Fresh Start collaborative team and the child’s mainstream classroom teachers. If necessary, a student may be re-admitted back to the Fresh Start Program.
“The Fresh Start Program has provided therapy for children with behavior problems and support for their families. Children learn to monitor and control their own behaviors. Parents learn parenting skills and behavior management skills in sessions they attend. It is the hope of the District that this combination of training and support will result in having children function better in a regular school environment. In the past several years, many children have benefited from this program and have been able to be much more productive in school.” Ann Laing, Ed.D, Assistant Superintendent Racine Unified School District
“Because of the holistic nature of the program, each student truly experienced a new beginning when they returned to their home school environment. They started to like school again!” Racine Unified School District Teacher
Fees
The cost of the educational component of the Fresh Start Program is covered by the Racine Unified School District. Parents are responsible for the cost of the clinical care the child receives while in this Partial Hospital Program. Clinical services may be covered by private insurance or medical assistance.
Admission
The admission process begins when a school staff member or parent makes a request for referral to the child’s school principal. The School Intervention Team and Assistant Superintendent then review the request. Once the request is approved, The Fresh Start Clinical Team assesses the student. If the child is admitted to the program, the admissions team meets with the child and his or her family to review the student’s educational, medical and social history, define expectations, and orient the student to the program.
For More Information call 262-687-2630