Employees |
    Brookside in Great Barrington serves psychiatrically involved adolescent males, many of whom have experienced physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse. The focus of the intervention is to teach these students to make decisions and demonstrate behaviors that show increased positive regard for themselves and the communities in which they live.
     Brookside students participate in individual and Adventure Based Counseling. All students participate in the Behavior Motivational System, which helps students develop self-control and accountability, decision making skills and social skills. All students are helped to learn to value themselves and others. Additionally, depending on their Comprehensive Treatment Plan, students may participate in topic specific groups such as Anger Management, Substance Abuse, Fire Education, Relaxation, and Social Skills. Throughout each student's placement, clinicians actively work to incorporate families and referring agency staff into the treatment team.
     Recent renovations in the school have been a new state of the art science room along with a new Family and Consumer Sciences Room. We have also added a handful of new positions, which will enable us to enhance our program. During the academic shift, a full time Reading Teacher, a Fine Arts Teacher, a Phys Ed TA, a Travel TA, a Job Coach, and a Vocational TA have been added. One of our goals is to expand the vocational services we offer our students by expanding our vocational services into the residential shift and weekends. Two positions have been added to facilitate this in the form of two Job Coach positions.
     Brookside students receive special education services in an exceptional learning environment, which includes a computer/technology lab and a full woodworking/industrial arts shop. Students can also earn the opportunity to participate in the NYPUM motorcycle program by consistently completing their schoolwork and exhibiting positive attitudes and behaviors.
     All Brookside students participate in an extensive vocational program which includes assessment and classroom instruction as well as a wide selection of job opportunities in such areas as landscaping, maintenance, housekeeping and food service. By achieving specific goals and meeting behavioral criteria, some students may earn the opportunity to obtain employment with businesses in the local community.
     The activity program is a key element in treatment at Brookside, and staff ensure that students participate in both more and less physically active leisure time activities each day. While students who exhibit responsibility and self-control may take advantage of many community recreational and cultural resources, Brookside's 13-acre campus offers exciting and diverse recreational opportunities utilizing a softball field, basketball court, fishing pond, dirt bike and hiking trails, and a full size gymnasium.
     As in all Hillcrest programs, the components of the Brookside program are fully integrated to maximize therapeutic engagement and opportunities for behavior change. Our staffing ratios are 2:1 during the academic shift, 3:1 during the residential shift, and 5:1 during the overnight shift.