YRU Brochure

Youth Recovery Unlimited

Emancipation through Education & Opportunities

Guiding Philosophy

Youth Recovery Unlimited was founded on the philosophy that each individual possesses unlimited potential. The YRU approach also has its roots in the belief that the destructive and anti-social behavior exhibited by young people is more often a behavioral problem than it is a psychological disorder. The goal of YRU is to lead each client toward the realization of his true potential by facilitating significant changes in his behavior and providing the skills, knowledge and resources he will need to pursue a successful independent life.

The Level System

The Level System defines the YRU group home culture. The progress of each client is measured by one of the five possible levels he has attained. Points are earned for positive behavior and lost as the result of negative behavior. Daily point totals determine each client’s status. Special privileges are available to those who achieve higher levels. As a client progresses, positive pro-social behavior becomes part of a daily routine and will continue to reap rewards and benefits for that client throughout his life.

Individualized Treatment

Treatment begins with an assessment of the individual’s needs. Qualified professionals are on staff to make psychological and academic assessments. These assessments become the basis for an individualized treatment plan for each YRU client. A treatment team puts together an appropriate mix of available resources to optimize each client’s opportunity to benefit from his YRU experience.

Employment

The main goal of YRU is to provide clients with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to function successfully on their own after graduation. Employment is a major part of the latter stages of the program. Most all of the clients are required to maintain steady employment prior to their graduation.

Committed Qualified Staff

Every member of the YRU staff believes in the potential of each individual and works tirelessly to provide clients with guidance, structure and resources to assist them in developing a productive and pro-social way of life.
The YRU staff is as qualified as it is dedicated. All staff members are highly trained. All are department of justice cleared and trained in first aid and CPR. All are experienced and skilled at working with this particular client population.
The YRU assistant administrator is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor and also provides chemical dependency counseling. The clinical supervisor is a Ph.D. and has been a licensed MFT for over 20 years. An academic advisor with a master’s degree in educational counseling and a licensed clinical social worker are also members of the YRU team. A clinical psychologist is on staff to provide a complete psychological evaluation for each YRU client.

Restitution and Savings

All clients are required to allocate 50 percent of their $500 per month earnings to savings, so that upon graduation, they have money to live on. All clients ordered to pay restitution are required to set aside 50 percent of their earnings for that purpose.

Making a Difference

The clients of YRU have in the past made poor choices and exhibited the kinds of behaviors that are common by-products of unstable home environments and inappropriate role models. YRU provides the stability and structure of a safe predictable environment as well as the guidance, education and resources each client needs to realize his true potential.

Safe, Structured Environment

Mission Statement

The facility is clean. The expectations are consistent and clear. The environment is predictable. Stability and structure provide clients with a safe environment in which to change and grow. The rewards and consequences of YRU’s "Level System" provide both direction and incentives for the personal and social development of each client. The system provides solid guidelines and establishes measurable standards of behavior for each client to effectively monitor his own progress toward the goal of becoming a mature young adult.

The mission of Youth Recovery Unlimited is to enhance the quality of life for at-risk youth through a program combining available community resources with a safe and structured group-home environment. Under the close supervision of a caring and qualified staff, guidelines and incentives are provided to facilitate the development of life skills and pro-social behaviors that will ensure the successful transition from at-risk teens to productive, self-sufficient adults.