Student Intern
The Christopher Home in Caribou recently held an open house to anyone interested in seeing how the program works and what modifications have been made to the program because of changes made to state and federal laws.
Staff photo/Deanna Jordan
Kathryn L. McGloin, left, juvenile justice specialist for the Maine Department of Corrections Juvenile Justice Advisory Group pauses in conversation with Shawn Savage, program director of the Christopher Home, to observe other guests visiting the home during their recent open house.
Shawn Savage, program director said they wanted to let the public know that “we’re here and we’re an integral part of the business community.”
The Christopher Home opened in Caribou in 1985, located on Route 1, halfway between Presque Isle and Caribou. It later moved to its current location of Pleasant Street in 1988. The home is one of the many programs run by Catholic Charities of Maine.
The home provides care and treatment for boys who have a history of juvenile corrections. Staying at the house for a time gives them the opportunity to slowly integrate themselves back into the community and family life.
Due to the lack of funds available for treatment, all residential treatment facilities had to make changes to their program in order to keep running. This meant that clients would not be able to stay for the usual 18 months, and that new positions had to be created in order to make sure everyone gets the care they need.
One of these new positions is that of the Community/Family Integration Specialist, currently held by Angie Marquis. In her position, Marquis works directly with the family and community members to determine what the needs are of the client and his family. They all work together to see that those needs are met and that the client is able to return to his family as soon as possible.
Marquis said they work closely with the families to help “enhance (clients) feelings of success and confidence.”
The home also now has a 24-hour awake staff. Staff are available all hours of the day and night to provide assistance to the boys. Night staff make room checks all through the night to ensure that everything is all right for their charges.
Instead of being there for a total of 18 months, the boys now stay between three and nine months. Having a location so close to home means that those months aren’t spent away from family. The boys’ families are allowed to visit anytime, but are encouraged to call first to be sure they won’t be interrupting any activities. Clients have a much easier time of adjusting with much of their treatment now focusing on the family integration.
“We have a good support system and good communication,” Savage says, of the importance of the family’s involvement.
There is also a full-time Clinical Specialist available for the boys whenever they need to see her, whereas before clinicians from AMHC were called. Each resident has an individual service plan, which is based on individual needs. The clinician helps them with their treatment and is also available anytime one of the boys feels he needs to talk to someone. In addition all of the staff are trained with a mental health certification.
When they are able to go back to their homes and families, the boys begin to work with a Functional Family Therapist (FFT), who, throughout the time period of 12 to 16 weeks, works with the clients to make sure that they are adjusting well to life away from the Christopher Home. The FFT helps them with their transition back into home life.
In addition to their treatment, the boys also have fun activities they can do throughout the week. There are many different board games available for them, as well as exercise equipment, a library and a basketball net outside. During the time they spend there, they are able to slowly earn time off of the grounds and are able to go to the store alone, or go to the recreation center or to the basketball and tennis courts in town. However, it’s not all fun and games, as all the boys have chores throughout the week to keep the house running smoothly.
The boys also have a point card system in which they receive 1,000 points for each positive thing they do during the day. Once they have earned 10,000 points they are able to ‘spend’ those points on extra TV time or get extra time of any other activity or privilege.
The boys seem quite content living in the Christopher Home, one youth describing it as being “like a normal house with a little more rules than normal.”
Staff photo/Deanna Jordan
Andrea Allen, Christopher Home employee, congratulates youth, Allen, on gaining more points for his point card. The youths receive 1,000 points for each positive action, and once they have 10,000 points they are able to ‘buy’ extra privilege time.
