Youth accepted for admission to Southern Peaks programs must have a diagnosis of a mental health disorder and may exhibit all or some of the following characteristics, depending on the specific program to which the youth will be admitted.
Admission characteristics include:
- Males and females between the ages of ten (10) and eighteen (18) at time of referral.
- Significant impairments in multiple areas of daily life.
- A need for 24-hour supervision due to the intensity of impairment.
- Past history of unsuccessful treatment in a less restrictive treatment setting. There are no appropriate levels of care which are less intensive to maintain and prevent decompensation of the adolescent.
- Persistent maladaptive traits and/or behaviors resulting in severe subjective distress.
- Significant disturbances in the development of cognitive, language, motor, and/or reciprocal social interaction skills.
- Aggressive and/or violent thoughts and behaviors.
- Requires treatment for sexually abusive or offensive behavior.
- Has co-occurring drug and/or alcohol issues.
- Requires a structured therapeutic environment to develop effective coping skills necessary to live safely and manage the effects of his/her illness.
- Has sufficient emotional, social, and behavioral functioning for a residential setting.
- Has an IQ of 70 or greater, (in some instances, on a case-by-case basis, a client with a lower IQ may be considered based further evaluation).
- The adolescent is medically stable and his/her medical needs are within the scope of the program.
