Brightside Treatment Center and Campus School offers a variety of opportunities, including:
Recreational on and off-campus activities; an olympic-sized swimming pool; basketball
courts, a baseball diamond and athletic fields; regularly scheduled goal-focused
activities; Outdoor Adventure Programming such as canoeing, hiking and backpacking;
school and community sports team involvement; community volunteers who participate
in a variety of our programs such as reading clubs, games nights, and visiting
resources; and regular trips to activities and events such as the Basketball Hall
of Fame, Six Flags, and others.
What Families and Referring Agents Say About Brightside
"This program has done a remarkable job with a youth who at 10 years old was
described as never being able to be safe in the community."
"I feel that the services offered to my son and myself were of the highest standard"
"I just want to say "Thank You" to your program staff for their support and the
loving and caring that my family received."
"Outstanding in all aspects."
"I'd recommend Brightside to any Special Education Director looking to place
a child out of district because you meet both their educational and therapeutic
needs effectively. I am very happy with my students being placed at your facility."
"This was a great experience for my client!"
Brightside Offers Neuropsychological Assessments and Diagnostic Evaluations
Brightside is now able to conduct neuropsychological assessment for Residential,
Day School, and Family Stabilization clients. Dr. Robert Ferguson has expertise
in evaluating brain function in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders
of childhood. Neuropsychological assessments help to clarify diagnosis and provide
recommendations about treatment and intervention. Evaluations include assessment
of Attention, Memory, Language, Visuo-spatial, and Executive functions. Comprehensive
evaluations may include assessment of general cognitive ability, academic achievement,
and activities of daily living. Dr. Ferguson can also perform projective and
other personality assessments when indicated. As part of the Brightside professional
training program, doctoral level psychology students may perform some of the test
administration under supervision.
Coupled with our ability to do psychiatric assessment, medication evaluation,
and educational services, we feel these resources enable us to provide a comprehensive
short-term residential/diagnostic placement option (45-60 days) for referring
agents who are trying to assess the future placement needs of specific clients.
Golf
Come Celebrate the 29th Anniversary of the Brightside Golf Classic on July 20,
2009. The Brightside Golf Classic supports the programs and services of Brightside
for Families and Children, as well as provides an excellent opportunity for business
networking and promotion. Please join this year's co-chairs, Glenn Welch, Executive
Vice President of Hampden Bank, and Paul Accorsi, Senior Vice President and Regional
Director of Massachusetts Operations for New Alliance Bank, for another great
tournament.
For more about Golf call (413) 748-9920, or click on Events, above.
Brightside Implements Sensory Integration Programming
Since August of 2007, Brightside has been integrating a sensory skills program
in order to assist in the development of a trauma informed modality of care and
move towards the establishment of a restraint-free environment. An Occupational
Therapy consultant has been providing on-going training in sensory interventions
to Brightside's clinical, educational, and direct-care staff and has been teaching
sensory techniques to youth. The purpose of sensory based stragegies in treating
traumatized children and adolescents is: to decrease the stress responses; to
increase calming chemistry by self-regulating or mutual regulation with an adult;
to teach concrete physical calming skills; and create a pathway to converse with
the youth after he/she has calmed.
As a result of the consultation, training, and program development, a sensory
room has been established in the campus school and sensory skills tools are available
in each residential unit. Staff has been trained to use sensory strategies as
both planful, preventative techniques and behavioral interventions. Sensory diets
are being used for youth who need a consistent flow of sensory treatment throughout
the day and evening. Plans have been developed to create sensory rooms in all
the residential units in 2009. Says one 9 year old boy about use of the sensory
room, "I can be calm, and when I'm calm I can help myself and others."
2008 Motorcycle Toy Run
Sunday October 12th, 2008 marked another successful Brightside Toy Run. Now in its 19th year, upwards of 3000 motorcycle enthusiasts followed Santa on motorcycles to deliver Christmas toys to the children of Brightside. The weather was great, and what a sight it was as chrome and leather covered the campus!! Thanks to all who participated in this wonderful community sponsored event. We look forward to the 20th Toy Run next October. For more information, call (413) 748-9920.
Angel Campaign
The Brightside Angel Campaign celebrated its 24th year in 2008 with over $90,000
raised to benefit the programs and services of Brightside! Our success is due
to the generosity of business sponsors, parishes and churches, individuals and
hundreds of helpful volunteers. Thank you for making a difference in the life
of a child.
To attend a tour of Brightside or to become a volunteer next year, please call
(413) 748-9920 or contact kathryn.madore@sphs.com.
Continuum of Care Provides Seamless and Efficient Service and Transitions
In addition to Residential and Day School programs for children, Brightside also provides Home-based Family Stabilization and Community Support
Services. As part of the Sisters of Providence Health System, we have a close
working relationship with the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
and Acute Residential Treatment Program at Providence Hospital, adjacent to our
campus. As a result of this array of services, we are able to creatively design and
implement a variety of individualized treatment options to provide effective treatment and smooth transitions from one level of care to another. This is
of primary importance in achieving successful discharges and long-term outcomes.
For example, many of our Residential clients who live locally remain temporarily
as students in our Chapter 766 approved Day School Program when they are discharged
from the Residential Program. This affords them the opportunity to continue their
educational programming in a familiar and supportive setting as they adjust to
their new living situation and eliminates the need for multiple transitions and
adjustments at the same time. If the services of Brightside's Family Stabilization
Team (FST) are recommended as part of aftercare services, FST can begin working
collaboratively with our Residential providers prior to discharge in order to
provide a smooth and effective transition. In a similar manner, clients who have
been receiving FST services before being referred to the Residential Program have
been able to retain their FST family therapist, who in turn works with the Residential
clinician/case manager. Spanish-speaking FST clinicians have been able to provide
family therapy and translation services for those parents of Residential clients
who do not speak English.
In the event that a Residential client is admitted to Providence Hospital, the
close proximity allows our Residential team to continue to work with both the
client and the hospital treatment team to assure a quick and successful return
to Brightside.
Brightside Kids in Service Helping Others
The Brightside Children, in conjunction with our Spiritual Development Program,
are involved in numerous service projects throughout the year to help acquaint
our youth with the values and joy of giving back to others.
For the second year in a row, Brightside clients participated in an Art Show
& Sale to benefit the homeless shelter at Broderick House. Several residents
and day students created and donated artwork to be sold, with all proceeds benefitting
Broderick House.
Volunteers
Volunteers add so much to the life of a child who has experienced trauma. No matter what your special talents, we would like to talk to you. Call Brightside at 413-788-7366 to get information or to join our team.