Stepping Stones logo

| | | |

Residential Treatment

Residential Treatment Level I

Preparation for Independent Living Program (24/7 supervision)
The Transitioning Program Phase I is a structured on-ground semi-independent program. The Program is developed to assist youth who are not entirely ready to live on their own, but who do not necessarily need all of the structure of a residential treatment program. Each youth must be responsible to take care of their responsibilities with little prompting, responding appropriately to the normalized treatment expectations and be participatory in the experiential life-skills environment.

Residential Treatment Level 2

Stepping Stones Level II Residential Treatment Services are geared toward male youth ages 12 – 17 years old at intake that may have experienced a multiplicity of behavioral and/or emotional trauma.

Located in rural Wayne County, 166 acres provide for youth centered activities such as sports fields, a fishing pond, gardening, and many other recreational activities. The Level II Program serves up to 12 youth.

The Program’s daily activity schedule is highly interactive and reflective of a sincere desire to make every moment a “teachable moment”. It is strongly believed that each progression strengthens the reunification process for the youth with both his family and community. Each progression also helps to normalize the treatment process and helps to make it more applicable (to real life situations) and understandable for the youth and active family.

Stepping Stones adheres to strong family-centered practice beliefs. The Agency values and supports family involvement at every point in the treatment milieu, involving families through flexible meeting schedules, linkage and referral, opportunities for weekly home visitation, after-care planning, satisfaction surveys, asset building, and strengthening of natural supports, etc. Instead of focusing on the family “dysfunction”, we identify our kids’ protective factors that build resiliency with both the kids and families.

Stepping Stones offers a full array of professional therapeutic services. Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychologists, Psychiatrist, RN, and contracted MD are involved in treatment assessment, planning & evaluation; specially trained and degreed staff perform service delivery.

Intensive Therapeutic Services:

  • Treatment Assessment & Planning ▪ Crisis Intervention
  • On-Grounds Options Pathways Educational Programming (High School Equivalency-TASC and Career and Technical Education Classes)
  • Tutoring
  • Asset Development
  • Safety & Relapse Planning
  • Specialized Assessments
  • Behavioral Modification
  • Formal Individual and Group Counseling
  • Supportive Individual and Group Counseling
  • Psychological Interview
  • Formal Therapeutic Counseling Groups are available as indicated, Groups may include: Evidence Based Substance Abuse Treatment – Seven Challenges Model, Family Process, Grief & Loss, Conflict Resolution, Violence Prevention, and Trauma Treatment Groups such as Seeking Safety.

Supportive Therapeutic Services:

  • Life Skills Training
  • Psycho-Educational Groups
  • Character Development
  • Aggression Replacement
  • Cultural Diversity/Sensitivity
  • Skills/Hobby Development
  • Service Learning/Volunteer Activities
  • Sex Education & Well-Being
  • Study Skills Enhancement & Tutoring
  • Peer Group Counseling

Eligibility Criteria

Referrals to Stepping Stones Level II are for those youth whose custody has been permanently or temporarily awarded to the State of West Virginia. Our Level II Residential Program targets youth with diagnoses that manifest in moderate to severe adjustment difficulties in school, home, or community, which include disruptive behavioral disorders, mood disorders, conduct disorders, etc., that has persisted for one year or more and is of such a critical nature that out-of-home care intervention is warranted.

The youth accepted for care need 24-hour supervision, behavioral modification, counseling, and progressive re-integration into the family and or transitioning services for independent living.

Targeted Population At a Glance:

  • Male Youth Aged 12 – 17 years old at Intake
  • Priority is given to youth from Wayne & Cabell Counties; Region II and then referrals are accepted from across West Virginia.
  • Youth will have a Mental Health Diagnosis and be capable of Self-Medicating (under supervision) and Self-Preservation. Additionally, the following referrals will be considered on a case-by-case basis:
    • Mild MR will be considered if youth is capable of self-care.
    • Youth with High-Risk Behaviors may be considered when assessed as low to moderate risk to relapse.

Disqualifying Conditions for the Residential Program

  • Is a current Safety threat/concern to self, others, the community
  • Has engaged in criminal activity that necessitates detention/correction services
  • Has active, violent, self-destructive and/or aggressive behavior

Referral Process

  • Referrals are accepted from the WV Department of Health and Human Resources and/or WV Juvenile Probation
  • Referrals are considered in conjunction with our openings.
  • If eligibility criteria are met and all parties agree that placement is in the best interest of the youth, then arrangements are made for a date for placement. Priority is given to local referrals that keep the youth in their home community.

WVDHHR Case Workers may view our current openings at:
West Virginia Child Placement Network