Opportunity

Your student has an opportunity to be a part of a program that is child-centered, assessment-centered, and community centered. The program will help him/her gain social skills, learn essential academic skills, gain credits, learn alternatives to current destructive behaviors, and strengthen the student/parent/teacher relationship. For all of our students and parents, this is a new start and a chance to rebuild relationships. It is a chance to be part of a team that commits to providing the academic, social and clinical structures and supports so that each child can reach their potential.

Collaboration

SUCCESS Program is a collaboration between Rutland City Public Schools and Rutland Mental Health Services. SUCCESS Program has five classrooms (K-3, 3-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12) staffed with a Special Educator from RCPS and an Experiential Counselor from RMHS.
Each classroom is a specialized class of the sending schools. We are not a separate school. What makes us different is the special expertise and training of our staff to help children overcome the emotional troubles that result in behaviors that make learning a struggle. Each student has a team comprised of the parent/guardian, home school coordinator, counselor, school psychologist, special educator, clinical coordinator, SUCCESS Program Director, representatives from community agencies, and mainstream guidance counselors and teachers. This team "wraps" around the child and provides the expertise, structure, nurturing and supports necessary to keep the child in their school, home and community.

CLINICIANS

SUCCESS has four Masters-level clinicians. Children are assigned to a clinician and attend a minimum of one hour individual psycho-therapy session each week. The clinician, with input from the student, parents, and staff, writes a treatment plan that guides the individual therapy. Clinicians work closely with SUCCESS parents, teachers and counselors to help students cope better at home, in school and in the community.

ACADEMICS and SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

SUCCESS Program follows the Rutland Public School Curriculum, and the Vermont State Standards, grade level expectations for Math and ELA and grade cluster standards for Science and Social Studies. Because we have less academic time due to therapy and the group process, we teach the academic skills and knowledge essential for success in the mainstream. Individualized Education Plans are rewritten within 30 days of your child's placement, to reflect new goals, objectives, services and accommodations.

GROUP PROCESS AND SOCIAL SKILLS CURRICULUM

SUCCESS' behavioral model combines Project Adventure's initiatives and group process with the Center for Safe Schools and Communities' sequenced lessons of The PEACE Curriculum. Through a process of group initiatives, outdoor therapeutic activities, peer and adult support, classroom points and level systems, and lessons in empathy, character traits, social skills and anger management, students learn to replace inwardly destructive and outwardly aggressive behavior with pro-social, peaceful and healthy alternative behavior.