Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School
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Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School is a residential treatment center and school for socio-emotionally disordered children and adolescents. Specializes in the treatment of youth who have failed in other treatment settings. Located on the campus of the University of Chicago.
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[edit] Life at the School
Students live either in communal dorms of up to 7 students per room or in transitional rooms or transitional units with one to two students per room. During the school week students attend academic classes during the day and have the option of attending a variety of extra curricular activities in the early evening. High school and older middle school aged students often attend departmentalised classes although self-contained classes are available when clinically appropriate. Younger students and students who cannot transition between classes receive individualised and small group instruction in self-contained classrooms. During their stay at the school students gradually attain to higher levels of privileges, freedoms, and responsibilities although a formal level system is not used. Behavioral plans, goals, and treatment modalities utilised are very individualised. Students attend approximately two 45-minute individual therapy sessions per week and one to two 90 minute group therapy session. A variety of group therapy modalities are used, with social skills groups, process groups, anger management groups, transition planning groups, and depression and anxiety groups. A complex student work program, student government, arts programs, and extra curricular activities allow students to attend a variety of daily life. Typical length of stay varies between a year and a half to several years, although the length of stay has decreased dramatically over the last several years.
[edit] Highlights of the school
The school is able to adequately educate students of above average intelligence and assist students in pursuing advanced courses on an individual or group basis. Students are also able to attend local universities and private and public schools on a part-time basis. The school is able to treat students in an unlocked setting without the use of seclusion or mechanical restraint. A vibrant staff of full time dorm counselors typically have a bachelor's degree and experience in working with young people, they are supported by part time and full time counselors who have extensive experience working with youth. Typically the staff to student ratio is very high, typically with two counselors present in each dorm supervising 5 to 8 students at a time with the support of masters level staff, educational staff, and crisis intervention staff. While at school the supervision is even higher with a full staff of therapists, program managers, special education teachers, art teachers, teaching assistants, and other supportive staff. Students with appropriate privileges have the opportunity of going out into the community several days a week, with some students able to leave the school on independent outings into the community. The school is developing a comprehensive transition program for adolescent students leaving for home, college, or independent living. Student in the Transitional Living Center have the support of the school staff, their old dorm staff, and the transitional living staff. They are typically able to go into the community and pursue employment, educational options, and other community activities. Students stay in the transitional program for several months to a maximum of two years. This facility is also one of the only unlocked residentials around the country.
[edit] Parental Contact
Students may attend periodic family sessions with their program manager or individual therapist. The dorm counselors are expected to regularly contact parents and update them on their child's progress, and students are able to call home at least once a week and can write as often as they wish. When students gain the appropriate privileges and have demonstrated safe behaviors they can have home visits, typically starting every other weekend and progressing to every weekend during transition phases. Student who are not able to go home may visit their parents at the school or in the local community. Contact with friends is often restricted, although appropriate letter writing is encouraged.
[edit] History
Formerly run by Bruno Bettelheim, a well-known and controversial psychoanalyst. The school is approximately 85 years old and has resided at its current location since the 1940s. The building is very old and renovations to modernize the building have been begun and are still under way.
