How many kids are in your programs?
What is your average length of stay?
What is the per diem?
Will residents see a psychiatrist?
What does the evaluation process entail for the sexual offender treatment programs?
What type of treatment do you use in adolescent sex offender treatment programs?
What kind of groups do you provide?
At your sexual offender treatment programs, what kind of chemical awareness programs do you have?
What kind of recreational activities are provided?
Do you use polygraph tests?
How are family members involved in the treatment process?
What kind of aftercare programming do you provide?
Where can I get more information?
_______________________________________________________________________
How many kids are in your programs?
Indian Oaks Academy
42 girls and 53 boys—and 12 developmentally disabled boys
Onarga Academy
84 boys
Mille Lacs Academy
94 boys
Gerard Academy
30 girls and 47 boys
What is your average length of stay?
The average length of stay for Nexus residential sexual offender programs
is about 18 months. Actual lengths of stay, of course, will depend on
a number of factors, including an individual’s age, history, diagnosis,
motivation, etc. Gerard Academy residential psychiatric programs
average length of stay is 10 to 11 months (based on 2006 statistics).
What is the per diem?
The per diem, or daily rate, varies by state and by site. It is important to note that Mille Lacs Academy and Gerard Academy (Minnesota) are Title IV-E eligible, while Onarga and Indian Oaks Academies (Illinois) are Medicaid certified.
Will residents see a psychiatrist?
Yes, all residents are required to see a psychiatrist as part of the initial evaluation process. Depending on what each resident’s specific needs are, he or she may continue to receive psychiatric consultation.
What does the evaluation process entail for the sexual offender treatment programs?
The initial evaluation is an extensive, multidisciplinary assessment during which a resident may meet with a sexuality therapist, family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist and chemical health professional to determine treatment needs and the youth’s ability to participate in a treatment program.
What type of treatment do you use in adolescent sex offender treatment programs?
Nexus treatment programs are based upon current research and well-accepted
practice in the field of adolescent sexual offender treatment. The Nexus
approach to treatment is grounded in cognitive-behavioral theory, which
means we provide an educational approach to intervene with thinking errors,
and we work with the adolescent to help him or her replace dysfunctional
or harmful behaviors with healthier, more socially acceptable ones.
At the core of our treatment philosophy is the premise that all children must be treated with dignity and respect. In many cases, we are re-teaching children and adolescents that adults can be respectful of them and can model for them appropriate relationship skills. Nexus believes that change is made through therapeutic relationships. We also believe in the essential goodness and humanness of each child that exists beyond any diagnosis or theory of his or her problems. While core beliefs, values and theories underwrite what we do, Nexus takes a practical and largely eclectic approach to working with adolescents, employing a variety of interventions depending upon the specific treatment needs of the individual.
Nexus programs are composed of well-defined areas of therapeutic focus including family therapy, sex education, sexuality therapy, chemical health and chemical dependency treatment, recreational therapy, psychological assessment, chaplaincy, psychiatric and medical services. For residents to maximize each program component and begin practicing newly learned skills, heavy emphasis is placed on making the treatment environment safe. Programming is facilitated by treatment teams composed of staff trained in a variety of disciplines. The mission of the treatment team is to mobilize the special experiences, education and personalities of each staff member in a way that empowers the team to meet the therapeutic needs of the child.
What kind of groups do you provide?
Because we treat all youth within the context of their unique challenges, we offer a variety of therapy groups. Among them: sexual education, sexuality, family issues, chemical health awareness, healing, re-entry, independent living skills, and other specialized groups as needed. All programs offer individual, group and family therapy.
At your sexual offender treatment programs, what kind of chemical awareness programs do you have?
All residents are given a chemical health assessment upon admission and participate in a basic chemical health education program. Specific treatment groups and individual counseling are available to residents in need of more extensive treatment in this area.
What kind of recreational activities are provided?
Therapeutic recreation is a vital element in all Nexus programs. A wide variety of organized group and individual activities are used to teach cooperation and replacement behaviors for aggression. Non-contact sports such as flag football and baseball are often used in this way. Other activities are designed to teach residents new leisure skills and hobbies, or to teach youngsters simply how to have fun.
Do you use polygraph tests?
Yes. Although there are restrictions on its use in Illinois, polygraph is available at Nexus sexual offender treatment sites.
How are family members involved in the treatment process?
Nexus embraces a broad definition of family—many of our residents rely on the support of significant caregivers who may not fit a traditional definition of family.
These significant caregivers are a primary support for residents in their journey through treatment. They are invited to the program at the time the resident is admitted and, with the family therapist, develop a plan of participation in treatment. Our family therapists meet regularly with families to develop an understanding of family strengths, and to engage them in the treatment process and relapse prevention planning for their child.
What kind of aftercare programming do you provide?
All Nexus sexual offender treatment programs provide discharge and aftercare planning for residents whether they are returning home, moving into independent living, foster care or other supervised living arrangements. Through this service, referrals are made for further therapy or other necessary services. In addition, Nexus Aftercare Coordinators remain in contact with the resident for up to three years after discharge to monitor progress, provide support or make additional referrals.
Where can I get more information?
Our admissions staff are available to answer your questions regarding our residential treatment programs.