Treatment Philosophy

The children of Pine Grove represent a group of children with developmental disabilities accompanied with significant behavioral problems, communication deficits and poor social skill development. Treatment is directed toward making developmental gains aimed at enhancing their adaptive functioning and personal independence. The therapeutic setting provides a safe physical and social environment that is responsive to each child's needs. To accomplish these goals, we use treatment plans based on a "social behavioral model" that are specifically designed to meet the individual needs of each child.

The behavioral approach

In adopting the behavioral approach, we set specific treatment goals that focus on target behaviors in the "here-and-now" and on specific factors or causes that serve to maintain them. We assume that these behaviors are learned and that they are specific to given situations. We use treatment techniques that have been empirically validated by scientific research to be appropriate for behavior management. Positive behavioral support procedures aimed at increasing desirable behaviors are given top priority. Special care is taken to protect the children's rights by establishing a treatment environment that imposes the fewest restrictions necessary while assuring individual safety and development. This is achieved through having an exact description of the techniques included in written behavioral "policies", careful recording by staff of each incident requiring intervention and keeping a close watch on a child’s progress in response to a particular treatment method.