FreshSTART is a unique therapeutic group home model developed by Intercept Health that has once again "redefined the group home experience."
By offering three different tracks of service that consist of
Community Stabilization, Assessment & Diagnostic, or Therapeutic Group Home + Education
Sometimes our adolescents are in the throes of an emergency situation. They need immediate intervention, a safe space to stabilize, and trauma-informed expert support to navigate their crisis. 30 Day Community Stabilization provides that and more, offering a lifeline when it is needed most.
FreshSTART is aimed at preventing youth from having to experience unnecessary hospitalizations or psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) levels of care.
FreshSTART offers a safe home-like environment for adolescents to come and safely engage in a 90 Day Assessment & Diagnostic program tailored to define distinct developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs. This is not just a quick check-up; it's a comprehensive program designed to thoroughly understand each adolescent's unique needs. This involves our clinicians, psychologists, medication management, educators, residential specialists, and family engagement coordinators working diligently to create a robust, individualized plan of care. This comprehensive plan is essential for guiding each young person's care post-discharge, setting them up for long-term success.
The FreshSTART Therapeutic Group Home + Education model was created to serve young people who meet criteria for a therapeutic group home, but also have an Individualized Education Plan(IEP) that identifies a need for Private/Residential Day School placement. While placed at FreshSTART, each young person becomes a student of FreshSTART Academy, our on-site residential day school boasting a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 4.
Imagine the convenience and the peace of mind knowing that educational needs are seamlessly integrated into therapeutic care. It ensures that no adolescent falls behind academically while receiving the treatment they need. This dual support system ensures that therapeutic and educational needs are met in one safe cohesive environment.
programming
30 Day Community Stabilization Program
90 Day Assessment and
Diagnostic Program
Therapeutic Group Home +
Education
structured program of care
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Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy (minimum of one session per week)
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Weekly Family Therapy Sessions (in-person, phone, or virtual when available)
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Weekly Issue-Focused Process Group Therapy
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Psychiatric Services: On-call, same-day, and next-day psychiatric appointments, utilizing onsite telepsychiatry
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On-site Educational Services
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Daily Psychoeducational Groups
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Daily and Weekly Program and Recreational Activities
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Community Involvement: Opportunities for clients to practice and develop appropriate social skills through participation in off-campus and recreational activities.
Intercept Health's LifeBridge Continuum of Care ensures a seamless transition for clients as they progress from one service to another.
clinical expertise
Collaborative Team Approach to Prevent Care Disruptions
Clinicians Employed by Intercept Health
Clinical Care Coordination by Clinicians for Service Coordination and Referrals Before Discharge
Clinicians Attend All Community-Based Meetings, Including Court and FAPT Meetings
evidence based programming
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Behavior Modification (Positive, Reward-Based Approach with a Level System)
Positive Behavior Support System Implemented in the Educational Setting
family engagement
Clients are encouraged to maintain regular phone contact with their family members and identified supports on a daily basis.
Family members/guardians are encouraged to:
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Participate in treatment team meetings.
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Visit their child at least once a week, whether it's an onsite or off-campus visit.
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Engage in monthly community activities sponsored by the home along with their child.
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Collaborate directly with our Family Engagement Coordinator throughout the treatment process to strengthen, rebuild, or repair family relationships. This includes practicing positive communication strategies that promote healthy family interactions and maintaining a strong family connection while the child is residing outside the home.
FreshSTART Academy
FreshSTART Academy provides year round, on-site education at each of FreshSTART's locations. The Academy provides a small student to teacher ratio, with one teacher and one teacher’s assistant for a maximum of eight students at any given time, all led by licensed special education teachers. Students may or may not have Individualized Education Plans (IEP) depending on their placement track; however, they all are experiencing a struggle with behavioral health, requiring a nontraditional living and educational setting. Educational services are provided Monday-Friday and provide instruction in all academic core classes required to earn a standard high school diploma in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the regular school year, our program follows the Standards of Learning (SOL) and Standards of Quality developed by the Virginia Department of Education.
FreshSTART Academy is licensed as a private/residential day school by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and is accredited by the Virginia Association of Individualized Special Education Facilities (VAISEF). The Academy serves students between 6th-12th grades and ages 11-17. We are licensed to serve students under the special education categories of Emotional Disability, Intellectual Disability (Mild), Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.