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Path to Changed Lives

Path to Change - Transforming the heart of a teen is a journey of choices

Transforming the heart of a teen is a journey of choices - made one step at a time. At Shelterwood, we use a level system to provide a framework for identifying and measuring personal growth, modifying behavior, building character and improving attitude. Each teen works through five levels and is given reports that summarize progress. Parents, counselors, teachers and mentoring staff are all involved in this process of helping students assess and progress.

Level 1: The main objective is orientation of your teen to his/her new living environment. This typically lasts two weeks.

Level 2: The main objective is identifying needed attitude and behavior changes. During this level, your teen completes a problem checklist, takes a personality inventory, compiles a list of strengths and weaknesses, shares his or her life story in Big Group, and develops personal goals in the following six areas: family, social, personal, spiritual, physical, and academic. It's not as easy as it sounds, though. Students typically spend four to six weeks in this level.

Level 3: The main objective is working on identified problems. Your teen is to initiate work on problems and goals, develop honesty with self, staff and peers, learn to take feedback from others, and demonstrate responsibility by following rules and guidelines. This is also the place where work begins of restoring a relationship with you- the parents. The amount of time spent on Level 3 varies with each resident.

Level 4: The main objective is to develop new attitudes and behavior. Your teen develops and writes out values for each of the six goal areas. He or she also writes new goals to reflect new attitudes and behaviors. Residents on Level 4 learn to appropriately confront and resolve conflict, begin to take responsibility for personal growth, reach out to others, and work on building a positive self-esteem. Again, time spent on this level varies.

Level 5: The main objective is to consistently show a positive attitude and good behavior. Level 5 is characterized by genuine consistency with changes accomplished on Level 4. New attitudes and behavior become spontaneous and a natural part of every day life. Growth is self-motivated and your teen becomes a role model for others at Shelterwood. Your son or daughter will begin planning for his or her return home!

Parent involvement in counseling and personal growth is also required to accomplish the goal of having the teenager reunited with the family. Parent participation in phone and on-site counseling and their attendance at the annual family retreats make reconciliation an attainable goal.