The program philosophy is that children with dysfunctional behavior can learn adaptive living skills.  To achieve that goal, the program provides mentoring services to children experiencing interpersonal difficulties in the home, school, and/or the community.

Stepping Stone Family Services, Inc. has seen a great need for anger management training that will extend beyond the group into the community in which youth are struggling.

Stepping Stone Family Services, Inc. combines a group learning approach to anger management as well as 1:1 instruction provided by a Stepping Stone in-home counselor in the community in which the juvenile is currently having struggles.  This instruction is tailored to address the particular concerns that arise in the home, school, or community.  Stepping Stone’s Community Oriented-Anger management Program includes transportation to the group instruction.  The eight-week curriculum includes:

Assessment	Communication Techniques
Anger Identification	Relaxation Techniques
Alternatives to Anger	Identificatin of Feelings
Moral Reasoning	Identify Anger Triggers

Stepping Stone’s Community Oriented-Anger Management Program is a closed group, which meets weekly for eight weeks.  Group size will be limited to eight participants and two facilitators.

The program will include one-to-one support by counselors, linkage to community supports and community advocacy.  There are five hours per week with child in the Community Oriented-Anger Management Program.  Two of these hours are in the regularly scheduled group sessions each week and three of these hours are with an in-home counselor at a 1:1 ratio.

Stepping Stone Family Services, home-based counseling services are committed to providing quality and professional services to youth and their families.  Our philosophy is to attempt to empower families to resolve problems appropriately by developing the necessary skills to work effectively as a viable unit.  Our services are child centered and -family focused.  Home-based services are available twenty-four (24) hours, seven (7) days a week.

Crisis intervention is also a vital component of the program.  The overall objectives of home-based counseling services is to assist the child and family with maintaining their child in the least restrictive environment.

Stepping Stone Family Services, Inc. will provide the following home-based components:

• Assessment
• Referral for other services
• Case Management
• Collateral Contacts
• Crisis intervention and Stabilization Management
• Life, Parenting and Communication skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Conflict Resolution Skills
• Individual Short Term and Long Term Goal Setting
• Levels of Services Consistent with Needs and Risk Levels
• Individual and Family Counseling Services
• Substance Abuse Intervention
• Transportation

A monthly report will be forwarded to the referral source. The progress report will indicate the progress of the child and family relative to the individualized treatment plan.  The monthly report will be submitted in conjunction with the invoice.

A termination report for each youth receiving services will also be submitted to the referral source with fifteen (15) days of the termination of services.

An annual program evaluation will be submitted to the Contract Monitor thirty days after the end of the contract year.

Intensive In-Home services is based on the idea that it is best for a child to work through his/her mental health issues in a stable, supportive home environment.  To that end, the program provides therapeutic services to children at risk for removal from their homes and their families.  The primary goal of service is to stabilize the placement and reduce-if not eliminate-the need for placement outside of the home.

In home services utilize a multi-system approach in planning and implementing individualized services.  Treatment may include:  intensive in-home services, home-based services with client and family,  24 hour crisis intervention services, life skills training, case management, and substance abuse treatment.

Our agency provides in-home services to families and individuals.  The client may exhibit the following behaviors:  Inappropriate or noncompliant interactions affecting school achievement, difficulty controlling anger, poor listening skills, resentment towards authority figures (including caregivers and school personnel) involvement with the police and legal system, runaway, truancy, low self-esteem and poor peer/family interaction.

These services are made available for families that are Medicaid eligible.  Social services or the Juvenile Court System may also refer clients.