Imagine a place a young person could go, knowing they could find help confronting their issues with in-house quality clinical treatment services tailored to his or her unique strengths and areas of intense need.
The Clinical Assessment and Resource Services program at Ranch Ehrlo Society is a program that augments the excellent clinical work already in progress at the agency.
Opened in the fall of 2008, the program provides holistic clinical services. The multidisciplinary team consists of registered psychologists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists, a psychometrician who all work together to serve the agency. They conduct a variety of assessments that helps develop individualized and quality treatment plans for the clients at Ranch Ehrlo.
“Our assessment team strives to provide an enhanced understanding of the youth to support the residential and educational personnel who work with them day in and day out”, said Carmel Kleisinger, senior director of clinical assessment. “Our services assist us in exploring why a child behaves as he or she does, and guides teams in implementing intervention strategies that facilitate the overall growth of the young person.”
And the assessment clinicians are busy! In fact, over the past three years, the team received an average of 179 referrals annually, reflecting a steady increase in requests for support over the years.
Agency staff opinions
Staff across the agency lined up to give testimony about the benefits the program provides to client’s overall treatment at the Ranch.
“They have provided valuable service planning information and strategies to the staff and residents, “said Mike Deis, a unit manager.
“This team being in-house has made accessibility to this important information so efficient,” Kirsten Endicott, educational resource coordinator said. “They are receptive and excited about sharing their knowledge about the ever-changing needs of the youth and young adults that we work with.”
The program also provides services to Ranch Ehrlo’s community programs. Patti Petrucka, Family Treatment Program (FTP) director, has relied on the team’s expertise many times.
“The team’s approach to working with the families is amazing – they genuinely care and have a fabulous ability to enhance the family member’s sense of safety in working with them.”
A common approach
No matter which program the team is working with, the approach remains the same: build and maintain rapport and continue to offer support for as long as it is required.
“Unlike an outpatient clinic, we have the opportunity to really develop a relationship with clients and the various teams,” Holly Huyghebaert, manager of the Clinical Assessment Program explained. “Our goal is to provide support and assistance to help our clients achieve long term success that extends well beyond their time at Ranch Ehrlo.”
