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Mission Statement
The mission of Eastern Suffolk BOCES at Phoenix House an educational, residential, therapeutic community for adolescents is to provide instruction based on the New York State mandated curriculum. Students are educated within a highly structured environment so they can continue their academic progress as they experience successful lives free from drugs and alcohol.
Program Profile Summary
Phoenix Houses is a Therapeutic Community whose mission is to help adolescents lead lives free from drugs and alcohol. This program is located in a residential facility in Wainscott, New York.
George DeLeon and M. Rosenthal define the principal aim of the therapeutic community as a global change in lifestyle: abstinence from illicit substances, elimination of antisocial activity, employability, and pro-social attitudes and values. The rehabilitative approach requires multidimensional influence and training, which for the most can only occur in a 24-hour residential setting. The TC coordinates a comprehensive rehabilitative offering in a single setting. The "therapist" and teacher in a TC is the community itself, consisting of peers and staff who role model successful personal change. Staff members also serve as rational authorities and guides in the recovery process. The TC's approach to rehabilitation is based on an explicit perspective of the drug abuse disorder. It is this perspective that shapes its organizational structure, staffing and treatment process.
Treatment usually spans 9-12 months and residents enter the program through the court systems, although a few enter voluntarily. The programs meet the needs of the residents through a variety of components, family therapy, individual and group therapy, recreation, vocation and education.
Eastern Suffolk BOCES provides the educational component while the students are completing their course of treatment. One unique aspect of our BOCES programs is that we work in conjunction with another organization. Phoenix is a TC with specific guidelines as to how the facility will be run. Although the school functions on its own, staff understands and accepts the concepts of the TC philosophy. The success of our work is based on a good relationship with the organization that houses us. Through weekly meetings we are able to accomplish this goal.
Phoenix has one teacher, one assistant and a ratio of 12:1:1. Not all residents attend school. The majority of students are not labeled as having handicapping conditions. The purpose of this tutorial program is to help students gain credits and pass statewide tests in order to receive New York State High School diplomas as they work on their recovery.
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