Dear Parent, Guardian, or Service Provider:

While your child is in the Shelter Program, there are guidelines and expectations of which you will want to be aware. This letter contains important information about our policies and procedures. It would be a good idea to keep this letter handy for future reference.

• Your child will be assigned a counselor. The counselor is a Master’s level therapist and is the person you will contact for any questions and/or concerns you have regarding your child’s placement. It is possible that your child’s counselor will be a Master’s level intern.

• Counselors are generally available on weekdays, usually from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Evening appointments can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

• Counselors will provide individual and family counseling during your child’s stay at the shelter, unless you have a relationship with another counselor outside of our agency.

• Counselors can provide home-based or aftercare counseling after your child has left the shelter.

• The counselor is the person you should contact for any questions and/or concerns you have regarding your child’s needs, such as transportation to appointments, medication, bringing in clothes, school issues, visitation, or counseling needs.

We expect you to be actively involved in helping to resolve the problem(s) which led to your child’s placement in the shelter. You are required to schedule an appointment with your child’s counselor within 72 hours to assess an appropriate length of stay. You are expected to participate in counseling sessions and other activities related to your child’s program in the shelter. This may average about two sessions per week. Failure to comply may result in discharge of your youth from the shelter, and/or amended or denied access to the facility in the future. You are also expected to provide copies of immunization records to us within 72 hours of placement. These may be obtained from your family physician or from your child’s school. These records may be faxed to YSB at (812) 349-2892.

Although the shelter does provide transportation to and from school, as guardians, you are expected to transport the youth to counseling, medical or court appointments, and any extra curricular activities including a job. Any exceptions to this will need to be discussed with your child’s counselor. You are also expected to be fully involved with scheduling appointments, and you are responsible for informing the counselor of all upcoming appointments for your youth.

As long as your child has not received consequences such as a freeze and/or has not dropped to the lowest level, he/she will be permitted to place and receive phone calls. Residents can only place long distance calls by using a calling card or by calling collect. You, as the legal guardian, will be asked if you would like for there to be contact restrictions for your child. YSB staff will follow such restrictions, should you choose to make such limitations. Residents can place/receive phone calls between 3:00pm and 9:00pm. The amount of time residents may use the phone is dependant on what level they are on.

Visiting hours are on Wednesdays from 7:00pm to 9:00pm and on Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Visiting limited to only those persons living in the same household as your child. Exceptions to this rule are rare, and must be approved by the child’s counselor on a weekday at least 24 hours before the visit. Visitors under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult family member. Visitors may smoke outside on the entry patio, but there is no smoking on the premises for youth under 18. Visitors must check in at the shelter office and sign the visitors’ log upon arrival and exit. If you would like to take your child off of shelter grounds for a visit, discuss this with your child’s counselor on a weekday, at least 24 hours before the visit. Unless the visit is therapeutic or medical, we stipulate that your child must be on Level 2 of our behavior management program before the counselor would consider granting such an outing. These outings are not standard policy and will be granted on a case-by-case basis. During such an outing, the person in which the youth is released to for the outing is responsible for maintaining supervision of the resident during the outing, and should return the resident at or before the agreed upon time. The child and adult must check in and out with shelter staff upon exit and return to the shelter. Any visitors who appear under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to visit in the shelter or take a child out of the shelter for a visit. Please do not bring any food or meals for the youth during the visit.

• Residents do not need money while at YSB. We request that you do not make arrangements with your child for any money to be given to them while at school or other outings unless approved by the counselor.

• We require that you pre-pay school lunches for the upcoming week at your child’s school. All Monroe County schools are aware of our pre-pay system and will permit you to pre-pay the lunches.

• Your child is permitted to have 5 complete sets of clothing, 1 sleep outfit, 1 or 2 pairs of shoes, one jacket or coat as needed. It is a good idea for kids to have a pair of slippers while in the shelter. All clothing is labeled with your child’s initials in the tags. Clothing is laundered nightly. Clothing requiring special care will be returned to you.

• Your child is also allowed to have some other personal possessions, such as hygiene products and school supplies. All items must be checked in by YSB staff.

• Pillows, bedding, personal radios, TV’s, movies and video games are already provided by the shelter and are not to be brought in by residents.

• Residents are not permitted to smoke or possess smoking materials during their stay at the shelter. We also request that you do not allow your underage youth to smoke when in your care on approved outing from the shelter. Residents will receive consequences if they smoke while away from the shelter.

• Once your child has 5 outfits and the other necessary items, they will not be allowed to trade these items in for new ones or have any extra items brought in, with the exception of hygiene products. The only other exception is if the season changes while your child is in the shelter.

• Your child is responsible for his/her personal possessions. The shelter is not liable for items lost, stolen or damaged. We suggest that any valuable items be left at home.

If your child is taking prescription medication, you must provide the medication to the shelter staff at the time of intake. In order for shelter staff to administer the medication, it must have the prescription label or doctor’s written order with it. The label on a prescription bottle is sufficient. YSB’s staff must follow the prescription label or doctor’s order exactly as it is stated. If you would like for the dosages or times to be changed, you need to provide written confirmation from the prescribing doctor. Doctors can fax such notification to YSB at 349-2892.

If your child chooses to run away from the shelter, you will be notified immediately. If your child is placed here through the court or by the Division of Family and Children, we will also notify the police and file an apprehension form. If you placed your child at the shelter, we can assist you if you choose to file a runaway report with police.

The shelter staff has written guidelines for how they may or may not discipline a resident. Physical punishment is never used. Shelter staff will not put their hands on a resident unless the resident is hurting themselves or another person. If you would like to have a copy of the Behavior Management Program, please ask a staff member for one. Your cooperation during your child’s stay is appreciated.

Click here for a list of items you need to bring for your child or client. Also included is a list of do's and don'ts to help make this process easier for all involved.