Saint John's Residence for Boys: PROGRAMS

PROGRAMS

St. John’s has two major programs at its main location in Rockaway Park, Queens, NY: a Diagnostic Reception Center (DRC) and a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). Ordinarily, boys coming into care for the first time are placed in our DRC where a team of professionals do a comprehensive psychosocial assessment in an effort to develop a plan of action that will serve the young man and his family. The goal is to reunite him to his family or other appropriate resources.

At times, the needs of the young men call for extended placement in our Residential Treatment Center (RTC) where the goal is the same, i.e., to reunite him with his family, relatives, or some other appropriate and supportive resource.

In addition to these two Rockaway Park based programs, St. John’s also oversees a Non Secure Detention group home in Richmond Hill, Queens.

Click Below for more specific program details:
•	Residential Treatment Center
•	Diagnostic Reception Center
•	Non Secure Detention Group Home
•	Educational Services

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER

St. John’s Residential Treatment Center (RTC) provides a structured therapeutic setting for up to fifty one adolescent males between the ages of 12 and 20. The boys and young men in our RTC have been placed in our care through the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, usually via a Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) placement, or abuse and neglect petition in the Family Court or on a voluntary basis by a parent. Residents in the RTC live in one of four family-style apartments on our main campus in the Rockaways. Services provided include group living in a therapeutic environment, individual, group and family counseling, social services, comprehensive medical care, opportunities for part time work and community service activities and recreational activities. School aged residents attend either our on site NYC Board of Education school, PS 256Q, or a community school, depending on their educational needs.

All residents in the RTC who are 14 or older receive Enhanced Independent Living Services. The Independent Living Program (ILP) is designed to help residents develop skills and competencies necessary to negotiate the world of work, interpersonal relationships and living independently. Program services include a management system built on the concept of contract, extensive individual and group counseling and a stipend and allowance program.

All residents in RTC benefit from the Substance Abuse Prevention Program. This program is designed to help families and youth deal with their immediate substance abuse and alcohol related problems, provide referral to various treatment programs and to provide youth with creative alternatives to substance abuse.

DIAGNOSTIC RECEPTION CENTER

St. John’s Diagnostic Reception Center (DRC) is a short term diagnostic center for adolescent males in need of assessment who are referred by the Family Courts or the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. During a two to three month average stay, each young person receives a comprehensive evaluation by a team of social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and educators. All DRC residents attend our on site school, which is staffed and administered by the NYC Board of Education. In addition to clinical assessment and evaluation, residents receive individual, group and family counseling, substance abuse prevention services and comprehensive medical services. Residents participate in a wide variety of recreational activities both on and off campus.

At the conclusion of the diagnostic assessment, referrals are made based on the most appropriate care to meet the child’s needs.
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NON SECURE DETENTION GROUP HOME

St. John’s operates one Non Secure Detention group home facility, which is funded by the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. This 10 bed facility, located in Richmond Hill, Queens, serves as a short term residence for adolescent males as they await Family Court outcomes. This highly structured program provides counseling, supervision and recreation services, with all educational and medical programs run directly by DJJ.
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

The thrust of our residence program is learning. Residents at St. John’s have several options in terms of schooling. We offer an on-site school, which is non-graded and staffed and administered by the New York City Board of Education. Some residents attend community public schools, both academic and vocational, or private and special service schools. Older residents have the opportunity to attend private or public colleges.

Each apartment has a daily study hour program. All residents are eligible for after school tutoring through the Chapter 1 program. Tutors meet with residents individually or in small groups twice per week during the school year.

One of the former apartments in the Residence Building was converted to an Educational Resource Center. This area gives the opportunity for the young men to pursue educational research and utilize one of a half dozen computer stations that are in the former bedroom areas. This resource center includes six internet connected computer stations, a library, a small group instruction area, educational and recreational CD’s and videos, college information, visual aids, and a number of other resources which help St. John’s realize one of it’s important goals: to offer a safe, supportive, encouraging educational environment while we do all we can to unite the young men with their families and loved ones.
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