Action for Boston Community Action for Boston Community DevelopmentDevelopment

Collaborating Partners: 1. Boston Public Schools 2. Gavin FoundationCollaborating Partners: 1. Boston Public Schools 2. Gavin Foundation

To reduce the high rates of relapse associated with teens in recovery by providing a safe, To reduce the high rates of relapse associated with teens in recovery by providing a safe, sober and supportive school environment where students and their recovery efforts are sober and supportive school environment where students and their recovery efforts are understood, valued and fostered as they work towards earning their high school diploma. understood, valued and fostered as they work towards earning their high school diploma.

Contact Us:Contact Us:

Phone - 617-348-6070Phone - 617-348-6070

E-mail - oser@bostonabcd.orgE-mail - oser@bostonabcd.org

Internet - www. massrecoveryhs.orgInternet - www. massrecoveryhs.org

•

MISSION

StaffingStaffing

Meet DOE licensure requirements and have Meet DOE licensure requirements and have secondary school experiencesecondary school experience

Knowledge of recovery processKnowledge of recovery process Staff composition includes:Staff composition includes:

PrincipalPrincipal 4 certified teachers to maintain ratio of 15:1 and meet 4 certified teachers to maintain ratio of 15:1 and meet

curriculum needscurriculum needs Counselor/social worker (LADC, LICSW)Counselor/social worker (LADC, LICSW) Guidance counselorGuidance counselor Intake CoordinatorIntake Coordinator

The Recovery High School The Recovery High School Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework

1. Academic Competency1. Academic Competency

2. Recovery Support2. Recovery Support

3. Family Support3. Family Support

4. Comprehensive Care Management4. Comprehensive Care Management

5. Youth Development5. Youth Development

6. After-Care6. After-Care

1. Academic Competency1. Academic Competency• Curriculum in alignment with Massachusetts Curriculum FrameworksCurriculum in alignment with Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

• Small classroom sizes (approximate 15:1 student/teacher ratio) and Small classroom sizes (approximate 15:1 student/teacher ratio) and individualized attentionindividualized attention

• Highly qualified teaching staff certified by the Massachusetts Department Highly qualified teaching staff certified by the Massachusetts Department of Educationof Education

• MCASMCAS and SAT preparationand SAT preparation

• Weekly student meetings with advisor to review academic progressWeekly student meetings with advisor to review academic progress

• Online grading system accessible to student and parents to monitor both Online grading system accessible to student and parents to monitor both academic progress and assignmentsacademic progress and assignments

• Progress reports and report cards completed in accordance with Boston Progress reports and report cards completed in accordance with Boston Public School calendar.Public School calendar.

2. Recovery Support2. Recovery Support

• Individual counseling services provided by licensed school Individual counseling services provided by licensed school Recovery Counselor Recovery Counselor

• Group meetings where students have the opportunity to process Group meetings where students have the opportunity to process issues related to their recovery and receive information helpful issues related to their recovery and receive information helpful to their sobriety.to their sobriety.

• Regular peer-to-peer support opportunitiesRegular peer-to-peer support opportunities

• Individualized recovery plans that support and document Individualized recovery plans that support and document students’ recovery based activitiesstudents’ recovery based activities

• Student alumnae group that provides additional peer focused Student alumnae group that provides additional peer focused support for Ostiguy studentssupport for Ostiguy students

3. Family Support3. Family Support

Parents/Guardians are included in the intake/enrollment process Parents/Guardians are included in the intake/enrollment process culminating in an orientation conducted by Ostiguy staff on their child’s culminating in an orientation conducted by Ostiguy staff on their child’s first day of school. first day of school.

Parents attend monthly meetings at the school where they receive school Parents attend monthly meetings at the school where they receive school updates and receive trainings on various adolescent addiction related topicsupdates and receive trainings on various adolescent addiction related topics

Parents conduct their own monthly Families Anonymous meeting Parents conduct their own monthly Families Anonymous meeting

Parents have daily access to their students assignments and grades through Parents have daily access to their students assignments and grades through “My Gradebook” system used by school“My Gradebook” system used by school

Parents have daily access to all Ostiguy administrative, counseling, and Parents have daily access to all Ostiguy administrative, counseling, and teaching staffteaching staff

4. Comprehensive Care Management4. Comprehensive Care Management

Students work with both School Counselor and Recovery Counselor from first point Students work with both School Counselor and Recovery Counselor from first point of contact to post graduate follow up.of contact to post graduate follow up.

Students develop both an individual school and recovery plan during the intake Students develop both an individual school and recovery plan during the intake process that are reviewed/updated monthly.process that are reviewed/updated monthly.

School Counselor conducts a weekly Senior Seminar to prepare students to achieve School Counselor conducts a weekly Senior Seminar to prepare students to achieve their post-graduate goals.their post-graduate goals.

Recovery Counselor conducts weekly groups focused on addiction/recovery based Recovery Counselor conducts weekly groups focused on addiction/recovery based topics.topics.

Counselors connect students to year round employment opportunities connected to Counselors connect students to year round employment opportunities connected to their career goals and classroom experiences through ABCDs Summerworks and their career goals and classroom experiences through ABCDs Summerworks and career exploration programs.career exploration programs.

Counselors meet with a licensed social worker (LICSW) weekly to review students Counselors meet with a licensed social worker (LICSW) weekly to review students dealing with social emotional and/or mental health issues. dealing with social emotional and/or mental health issues.

5. Youth Development5. Youth Development

The process through which adolescents acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional The process through which adolescents acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life.skills and abilities required to navigate life.

In addition to the traditional academic and counseling services provided to the students, In addition to the traditional academic and counseling services provided to the students, Ostiguy High promotes the development of our students in the following ways:Ostiguy High promotes the development of our students in the following ways:

Students participate in weekly lifeskills class conducted through collaboration with Students participate in weekly lifeskills class conducted through collaboration with the Boston Public Health Commission and Unified Student Services. the Boston Public Health Commission and Unified Student Services.

Students participate in a variety of activities focused on helping them develop Students participate in a variety of activities focused on helping them develop hobbies and interests that will support their recovery. These activities include an hobbies and interests that will support their recovery. These activities include an after school rowing club, yoga, improvisational drama, and art. after school rowing club, yoga, improvisational drama, and art.

Students participate in after school paid career exploration activities and summer Students participate in after school paid career exploration activities and summer employment activities to help them identify and make progress towards achieving employment activities to help them identify and make progress towards achieving their career goals.their career goals.

Students identify and participate in community service opportunities through Students identify and participate in community service opportunities through student council. student council.

6. After-Care6. After-Care

Routine Follow-up by school and recovery counselor after Routine Follow-up by school and recovery counselor after graduationgraduation

Post-graduate resource Linkage for post-secondary, Post-graduate resource Linkage for post-secondary, vocational, and addiction related needsvocational, and addiction related needs

Student peer support through alumnae associationStudent peer support through alumnae association

Outreach and IdentificationOutreach and Identification The schools utilize several referral sourcesThe schools utilize several referral sources to identify appropriate to identify appropriate

candidates for admission including, but not limited to:candidates for admission including, but not limited to: Adolescent Residential treatment providersAdolescent Residential treatment providers Adolescent outpatient treatment providersAdolescent outpatient treatment providers Boston Public Schools Boston Public Schools Department of Youth Services and vendors.Department of Youth Services and vendors. Department of Social Services and vendors.Department of Social Services and vendors. Juvenile CourtsJuvenile Courts Other area school systemsOther area school systems ParentsParents StudentsStudents

Prior to admission the schools seek recommendations from the student’s Prior to admission the schools seek recommendations from the student’s home school principal, administrator or counselor, or treatment provider home school principal, administrator or counselor, or treatment provider and students must complete an in-person interviewand students must complete an in-person interview

Student EligibilityStudent Eligibility

Students must:Students must:

• be committed to an individual program of recoverybe committed to an individual program of recovery• develop a recovery plan which includes authorization of develop a recovery plan which includes authorization of random drug testingrandom drug testing• have a parent and/or guardian who is willing to be actively have a parent and/or guardian who is willing to be actively involved in the programinvolved in the program• have 30 days of sobriety upon admissionhave 30 days of sobriety upon admission

While a student needs 30 days of sobriety to start classes, the intake While a student needs 30 days of sobriety to start classes, the intake process starts when an individual can express a motivation to obtain process starts when an individual can express a motivation to obtain and maintain their sobriety.and maintain their sobriety.

Intake ProcessIntake Process

In order for a individual to be successful at OHS they have to establish their readiness In order for a individual to be successful at OHS they have to establish their readiness and motivation in three areas: 1. Education 2. Recovery 3. Mental Health. and motivation in three areas: 1. Education 2. Recovery 3. Mental Health.

Ostiguy High staff determine an individuals status in these areas through a three part Ostiguy High staff determine an individuals status in these areas through a three part intake process:intake process:

1. 1. Open HouseOpen House – Any individual, family member or provider who is interested in learning – Any individual, family member or provider who is interested in learning more about the school and meeting staff and students.more about the school and meeting staff and students.

2. 2. Interviews Interviews – Meeting with School and Recovery Counselor to review student history and – Meeting with School and Recovery Counselor to review student history and assess readiness/motivation to enroll at Ostiguy High. Upon completions of the interviews a assess readiness/motivation to enroll at Ostiguy High. Upon completions of the interviews a student’s in the areas of education, recovery, and mental health are reviewed student’s in the areas of education, recovery, and mental health are reviewed

3. 3. OrientationOrientation – Review of all policies and procedures with parents/guardian on the first day – Review of all policies and procedures with parents/guardian on the first day of enrollment.of enrollment.

William J. Ostiguy High School William J. Ostiguy High School 07-08 Student Characteristics07-08 Student Characteristics

Enrollment – 39 studentsEnrollment – 39 students 38% of students have an IEP (primarily 38% of students have an IEP (primarily

emotional/behavioral)emotional/behavioral) 54% of students are on probation54% of students are on probation 51% of students are prescribed psychiatric medications51% of students are prescribed psychiatric medications 25% of students are DSS involved25% of students are DSS involved 14 % of students are currently living in residential treatment 14 % of students are currently living in residential treatment

facilitiesfacilities 95% of the students are classified as polysubstance users95% of the students are classified as polysubstance users

William J. Ostiguy 07-08 William J. Ostiguy 07-08 DemographicsDemographics

Gender

15

24

Male

Female

0233

1210

32

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

AGE

Relapse Rates (39 students)Relapse Rates (39 students)

27

8

3 1

No Relapse

One relapse

Two relapses

Three relapses

Student Status 07-08Student Status 07-08

Total: 39Total: 39

Graduated from Ostiguy: 8Graduated from Ostiguy: 8

Advanced to next Grade Level/Returning to Ostiguy: 13Advanced to next Grade Level/Returning to Ostiguy: 13

Still enrolled but did not advance a grade level: 4Still enrolled but did not advance a grade level: 4

Advanced to next Grade Level/Returning to home school: 6Advanced to next Grade Level/Returning to home school: 6

No longer enrolled/pursuing GED: 3No longer enrolled/pursuing GED: 3

No longer enrolled/terminated for violation of school policy: 5No longer enrolled/terminated for violation of school policy: 5

Case ExampleCase Example

This student has been in custody of DSS since he was eight years old. He This student has been in custody of DSS since he was eight years old. He has moved over ten times in his eighteen years of life. He is currently in a has moved over ten times in his eighteen years of life. He is currently in a residential living program (DSS). residential living program (DSS).

He started smoking marijuana at the age 11 and self reported that he had He started smoking marijuana at the age 11 and self reported that he had smoked marijuana “every day” for the past seven years. smoked marijuana “every day” for the past seven years.

He was referred to Ostiguy High by his school counselor from a Boston He was referred to Ostiguy High by his school counselor from a Boston Public High School. He had expressed to his guidance counselor a desire Public High School. He had expressed to his guidance counselor a desire to stop smoking so that he could gain employment in the hospitality to stop smoking so that he could gain employment in the hospitality industry. He had been offered a job, but was subsequently terminated for a industry. He had been offered a job, but was subsequently terminated for a positive drug test.positive drug test.

Case ExampleCase Example Student attended school open house and self-reported he was still actively smoking Student attended school open house and self-reported he was still actively smoking

and had never received any treatment or counseling for his marijuana addiction. He and had never received any treatment or counseling for his marijuana addiction. He did express the willingness to seek out counseling as part of the enrollment process.did express the willingness to seek out counseling as part of the enrollment process.

Through our connection with the Dimock Health Center the young man was Through our connection with the Dimock Health Center the young man was enrolled in a 30 day outpatient treatment program for his marijuana addiction. enrolled in a 30 day outpatient treatment program for his marijuana addiction. During this period he took weekly drug tests and continued attending his assigned During this period he took weekly drug tests and continued attending his assigned Boston Public School.Boston Public School.

After completing his outpatient treatment program and achieving his 30 days of After completing his outpatient treatment program and achieving his 30 days of sobriety the young man in coordination with his Boston Public School Guidance sobriety the young man in coordination with his Boston Public School Guidance Counselor transferred to Ostiguy High.Counselor transferred to Ostiguy High.

The young man has maintained his sobriety and thrived academically. He has The young man has maintained his sobriety and thrived academically. He has acquired an aftershcool job through the ABCD Career Explorations program and acquired an aftershcool job through the ABCD Career Explorations program and reports that the quality of his life has improved dramatically since he has made a reports that the quality of his life has improved dramatically since he has made a commitment to sobriety.commitment to sobriety.