Specialized Programs:
School-Based Mental Health Services
Occupational Therapy Training Program (OTTP) provides counseling and group work services to students enrolled in elementary, middle and high school sites in San Francisco. Small groups at the school-site are offered which are tailored to participants needs and presenting problems. Often these needs include, but are not limited to stress reduction, peer relationships, anxiety reduction, etc. The integration and complimentary skill sets of occupational therapists and psychotherapists offer a broader scope of services than are often found in more traditional models. Participants are also able to receive individual 1:1 services either by a psychotherapist or occupational therapist depending on what would be most beneficial for the child. Therapeutic interventions are eclectic and based on the child or adolescents developmental needs. Often play therapy and skill building curriculum are utilized and delivered using a client centered and strength-based approach.
Log Cabin Ranch:
OTTP serves all incarcerated youth at Log Cabin Ranch (LCR) who have been sent for treatment and rehabilitation. OTTP provides a full range of services, including (a) occupational therapy assessment and comprehensive evaluation reports, (b) OT group sessions, (c) family therapy (d) individual OT sessions, (e) community re-entry services. Upon discharge, OTTP collaborates with other community based organizations to increase the likelihood for successful transition from LCR to the community.
Youth at Risk of Out of Home Placement:
OTTP serves youth clients from the Family Mosaic Project on a year-round basis. The ultimate goal of OTTP is to help the youth develop self-esteem and master age-appropriate life roles, by engaging them in meaningful life activities. OTTP incorporates the underlying philosophy of wraparound services; building on the strengths of children, youth, and their families, and welcoming family input at every level in the wraparound process. Occupational therapy/vocational assessment, life skills and vocational training are the hallmarks of OTTP. The program operates on the principles of occupational therapy (OT), which emphasize that by engaging individuals in meaningful and purposeful activity, the individual can develop the skills needed to function most optimally in his/her life roles. OTTP’s wraparound service approach embodies a family and child centered, strength-focused, needs-driven, team based and collaborative approach to service planning and delivery. Our multi-component, multi-contextual approach intervenes at family, school and peer levels. OTTP provides the following services: occupational / vocational assessment; individualized case plan; weekly individual life skills sessions; occupational/vocational exploration services; and work experience/job placement. Services are offered in the youth’s school, home and community sites.
Youth in Detention:
OTTP currently provides life skills training and educational services to the youth detained on Units 5,6 & 7 in juvenile hall for the duration of their detainment, as well as aftercare services to ensure that the knowledge and skills are transferred to their lives post-incarceration. OTTP’s interventions are delivered in group session format, and focus on those life skills that are essential components of healthy development, including social, cognitive and emotional coping skills. In addition, specific independent living skills and pre-vocational readiness skills necessary for self-sufficiency are learned and practiced within a warm, supportive environment.
Clinical Case Management / Intensive Home Based Supervision Program
OTTP provides intensive case management to probation youths ages 14-18 who meet medical necessity. Youth must have a DSM-IV diagnosis and exhibit functional impairment in school, home and community environments commensurate with his/her age and developmental level. OTTP occupational therapists and social workers work collaboratively to serve the client, and provide individual case management interventions, skill building sessions and cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at overcoming barriers that are hindering success towards personal, educational and vocational success. OTTP therapists meet with the youth for a minimum of three contacts weekly, which may increase or decrease depending on the specific needs of each youth. Positive outcomes of these intensive case management services include educational success, gainful employment, and personal goal achievement.
Young Adults, Ages 18-24, Exiting the Foster Care System
OTTP provides occupational therapy to promote the function and quality of life for young adults between the ages of 18-24 who participate in the Independent Living Skills Program. OTTP helps clients to develop self-esteem and independence by engaging them in meaningful life activities. In the process, young adults begin to identify their options and learn how to make more reflective and informed choices for themselves. Services include a thorough vocational assessment, individual and group life skills training, and employment opportunities.
