Two thousand and twenty-four marks the 20th anniversary of the Therapeutic After-School Program (TAP) at The William George Agency (WGA). Over those twenty years, TAP has helped young people like Joseph* better manage his emotions and reactions to his home life and community.
Joseph initially thought he had no reason to be at TAP. The reality was that he struggled with behavior issues at his school, including physical aggression, bullying and cutting class, like many of his TAP peers.
However, things began to change when Joseph started opening up about how he felt unheard and ignored at home. In a brief moment of honest exchange with a TAP Therapy Aide, Joseph realized that the Aide listened more than he thought anyone he knew ever had. It was a watershed moment.
While in the program, Joseph attended individual and group counseling which helped him develop anger management and coping skills, interpersonal relationship skills, and empathy for others negatively impacted by his behavior. He stopped cutting class, had no conflict with his peers, joined in a team sport and held down a summer job. At home, his relationships improved, and he made good progress in learning how to appropriately communicate his needs and feelings.
“So much begins with listening. Listening is a big part of the healing process,” says TAP clinical worker Gary Vivenzio. “It creates connection, trust, understanding and empathy. It’s an essential skill to use and develop. It’s something we model and encourage all family members involved with TAP to do.”
The Therapeutic After-School Program was started in 2004 from conversations between WGA leadership and child welfare professionals in Tompkins County about how to fill a void in outpatient services for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties and their families.
In the beginning, TAP was focused on serving a small portion of clientele with very specific behaviors and treatment goals. Today, the program offers weekly services to a wider group of male and female adolescents to help them successfully negotiate the demands of school, family and community.
“Most people know The William George Agency for our out-of-home treatment services for youth and young adults, but what they may not know is that our TAP program is a well-regarded, community-based prevention program designed to assist in the preservation of the family unit through structured therapeutic interventions. An analysis of TAP recently revealed that it has helped to keep 200 Tompkins County families together since it began, and it averages a ninety percent or higher success rate at reducing the need to place youth in residential care,” says Helen Hulings, Executive Director of The William George Agency for Children’s Services.
Youth participating in TAP have access to all the amenities of the WGA campus including: therapeutic recreation programs, equine therapy, an adventure based counseling indoor ropes challenge course, dining hall and athletic facilities. Individual, family and group counseling services are provided to every participating family. Further, alcohol and drug specific treatment services as well as psychiatric consultation are provided, as needed. Homework and remedial school work assistance is also available; some TAP participants attend the Day School Program offered by the George Junior Republic UFSD on the WGA campus.
Group counseling sessions explore a range of topics, such as building healthy relationships, managing anxiety, dating and human sexuality, values clarification, trauma, grief and loss, self-esteem, and drug and alcohol education.
Face-to-face support groups enable parents to discuss their shared experiences in a supportive, therapeutic group setting. Each month, a new topic, chosen by parents, is presented to better assist them in addressing issues related to parenting their child. In home family counseling also occurs monthly.
“Someone is on-call every weekend to support participating family members during less structured periods because we understand that crises don’t adhere to a nine to five schedule,” says Ray Ackerman, the Director of TAP services.
*name changed to protect privacy. The William George Agency for Children’s Services is committed to providing a safe and caring residential environment supported by proven, therapeutic, clinical and medical care for at-risk youth. For more information, visit their website: www.wgaforchildren.org.