HOW
LONG WILL MY SON BE PLACED AT NBR?
This primarily depends
upon three factors.
1. His behavior.
2. Progress by the family.
3. Final decision of the placing agency and the
courts.
To complete the program at Nebraska Boys Ranch requires
a MINIMUM of 4 ½ months, but usually requires 5 ½
months. Boys who are extremely motivated to complete the
program in the least amount of time, may move from
Levels I and II by daily posting green for 12 out of 14
days. This would allow them to finish 4 weeks sooner.
There are FIVE levels that a resident must go through
successfully in order to FINISH the program. After 15
days of Orientation, the boy officially starts Level I,
and will be evaluated by the Multi-Disciplinary Team
monthly.
Briefly, the levels are as follows:
|
Orientation- |
15 days –
practices our point system. |
|
Level I- |
30 days –
demonstrates a “willingness to try”
using our social skills program. |
|
Level II- |
30 days – “shows
improvement” in using social skills. |
|
Level III- |
30 days –
demonstrates “mastery” of social
skills. |
|
Level IV- |
30 days –
demonstrates he can “maintain”
social skills. |
|
Level V- |
30 days – once
again, shows he can “maintain”
social skills. |
|
Merit Level- |
no set length
of time; this level has been added for boys who,
due to circumstances, remain at NBR after
finishing the program. |
Boys who do not move up at evaluation time, are
delaying their return to
whatever the placement goal is, for at least 30 days.
They need to learn, and understand, they are responsible
for their own behavior, and have some control over their
own destiny. Our experience has taught us that if a
resident is able to FINISH the program, his chances of
being successful in a less restrictive are greatly
improved. Prior to his finishing our program, we will
notify the placing agency that we anticipate him to be
finishing soon, and to be prepared to move him once he
has EARNED this privilege. Where he will be placed
will be determined by the placing agency and/or the
courts, NOT Nebraska Boys Ranch. The placing agency
and the courts usually base their decision upon
communication with NBR, through phone conversations and
the regular monthly reports. It is important that
parents understand that NBR agrees with the philosophy
of attempting to reunify a resident with his family.
Likewise, we feel it is important that we have the
support and cooperation of the family; otherwise
placement is likely to NOT be successful. We believe
that the family, the resident, and placing agency and
NBR are all involved in a TEAM effort to reach the goal
of reunification.
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