Stars Behavioral Health Group

ART/EQUIP Groups ART/EQUIP Groups Implementation ProjectImplementation Project

ART/EQUIP ObjectivesART/EQUIP ObjectivesFor Participants to:• Internalize the value

that “caring is cool”• Increase moral

reasoning and judgment

• Improve their ability to manage anger

• Be able to identify and correct thinking errors

• Improve social skills• Reduce aggression and

related risk behaviors

For Programs to: • Adapt a proven practice

for helping clients with aggression problems

• Increase the number of staff proficiently trained on the proven practice

Transforming the CultureTransforming the Culture

Partnering with Partnering with youth and supporting youth and supporting

pro-social pro-social development choicesdevelopment choices

Utilize the power Utilize the power of Positive Peer Culture of Positive Peer Culture to support youth voice, to support youth voice,

action, and responsibilityaction, and responsibility

Teaching & Teaching & coachingcoachingspecific skills specific skills using a proven using a proven curriculumcurriculum

Aggression Replacement Training (ART)Aggression Replacement Training (ART)

Anger ManagementAnger Management

Social Skills StreamingSocial Skills StreamingSocial Decision-MakingSocial Decision-Making

* Teaching and modeling social skills * Use of video, role playing, assignments

* Beginning & advanced pro-social skills

•Identify and correct thinking errors * Anticipate consequences & rehearse alternatives* Move identity away from being victim or victimizer•Address both reactive and proactive aggression

Facilitate moral-cognitive development * Discussion of problem scenarios *

Based on moral development theory *

Intended for children and youth ages 3-18 to complete three one hour sessions per week over ten weeks. Can be implemented in school, clinic, residential or detention settings.

EQUIP: EQUIP: A Guided Mutual Help ProgramA Guided Mutual Help Program

Groups are Led by Peers

Staff Function as Coach

6 to 9 Youth Meet 3-5x/Wk

60” to 90” per Meeting

Five Phases of Meeting1. Introduction

2. Problem Reporting3. Awarding the Meeting

4. Problem Solving5. Summary

Focus on Personal Responsibility, Mutual Accountability & Thinking Problems Positive

Peer Culture

Pilot Program: Pilot Program: Star View Adolescent CenterStar View Adolescent Center

SBHG piloted ART/EQUIP in a secure SBHG piloted ART/EQUIP in a secure Community Treatment Facility (a high-end Community Treatment Facility (a high-end RTC in California) that serves adolescents, RTC in California) that serves adolescents,

ages 11-17, who are among the most severely ages 11-17, who are among the most severely disturbed youth in California. disturbed youth in California.

• Started with 6 boys on a residential dorm• Youth selected due to their aggressive behaviors • The overall residential population includes youth with

varied presenting problems• The pilot was successful and the program continues to

run ART/EQUIP groups as regular part of Intensive Day Treatment rehabilitative services

Initial ART/EQUIP Results atInitial ART/EQUIP Results at Star View Adolescent Center Star View Adolescent Center

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Residential Programs at Different Stages Residential Programs at Different Stages of ART/EQUIP Implementationof ART/EQUIP Implementation

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Early Implementation (Fall 2004) Just Starting Implementation (Dec 2005)

Test of SuccessTest of Success• At admission, the majority of youth (over 60%) in the

program with the longer running history of ART/EQUIP was in a high or lateral level setting such as juvenile facility, psychiatric hospital, or another CTF.

• At discharge, the placement level of these youth had reversed with a majority (almost 70%) able to transition to lower levels including group homes, foster homes, and family homes.

• ART/EQUIP is now one component of this program that supports these kinds of good outcomes and provides discharged youth with the skills they need to successfully navigate their new home turf -- without aggression.

Placement Upon DischargeCompared to Admission Relative to Level in Service System

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ART/EQUIPART/EQUIP Developing a Positive CultureDeveloping a Positive Culture

The ART/EQUIP program positively impacts the treatment culture, thereby transforming the lives of youth and young adults to become constructive contributors to their communities. The program is one component of Stars Behavioral Health Group that supports and provides discharged youth with the skills they need to successfully navigate their new home turf – without aggression.

The R.O.O.L.Z.The R.O.O.L.Z.RR: Respect Others : Respect Others

(be nice)

OO: Open Up : Open Up (talk about yourself)

OO: Offer Help To Others: Offer Help To Others (they may need your support)

LL: Listen To Others : Listen To Others (don’t interrupt)

ZZ: “Zip It” : “Zip It” (what’s said in the group, stays in the group)

Please direct comments or questions to:Peter Zucker, Ph.D., V.P., Clinical ServicesStars Behavioral Health GroupLong Beach Regional Office 1501 Hughes Way Suite 150Long Beach, CA., 90810310-221-6337 x108pzucker@starsinc.com