Treatment Services

Residential Program

The William George Agency addresses the needs of at-risk youth and young adults through a holistic array of clinical, medical, educational, vocational and recreational services within a highly structured, safe and caring environment. Our treatment team partners with the youth, their family as well as the referral source to create an individualized, multidisciplinary treatment plan with the goal of family reunification where appropriate.

This program serves 16 boys between the ages of 16 and 17 who present with significant mental health needs and with severe behavioral and emotional dysregulation. Youth in this program have committed non-violent felonies that New York State’s Raise the Age legislation allows for referral to family court.

raise the age program (PDF)

This program provides services for 70 boys who present with significant mental health needs and with severe behavioral and emotional dysregulation. Children in this program have either failed or not been deemed appropriate for either community based services or regular institutional care and require a highly structured, closely supervised, therapeutic living environment. The long term goal of treatment is fostering personal responsibility through the development of increased self-awareness, healthy relationships, conflict resolution and more effective coping skills.

Hard to place boys – HTP-Boys (PDF)

This program provides services for 18 girls who present with a history of trauma and a mental health disorder including diagnosis related to a disturbance of conduct. Children in this program typically have a history of being unable to progress in community based services or regular institutional programming and require a higher level of care. The long term goal of treatment is fostering personal responsibility through the development of increased self-awareness, healthy relationships, conflict resolution and more effective coping skills.

Hard to place Girls – HTP-girls (PDF)

This program provides services for 20 boys who have been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for sex offenses or who have a history of perpetration and acknowledge their need for treatment. Children in this program are typically in need of medium to long term placement. An emphasis in treatment is addressing social competency, an area in which youthful sex abusers typically present serious deficits, as well as psychoeducation, personal accountability, identification and changing of cognitive distortions, and offense patterns, victim empathy development, reducing deviant arousal, processing traumatic events, family treatment, and associated clinical and educational issues.

SHBP (PDF)

This program provides services for 22 boys with a full scale IQ between 55 and 70 who are experiencing severe emotional, behavioral, social and/or family problems that require placement outside of their homes. Children in this program are typically in need of medium to long term placement. Particular emphasis is placed on skill building with a long term goal of achieving a level of social, vocational and educational competency which allows for a higher degree of independent functioning.

HTP-DD (PDF)

This program provides services for 9 boys and 9 girls who have a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder. Children in this program are typically court mandated or have a willingness to engage in treatment. This program integrates intensive substance use disorder treatment with residential care to offer residents a safe, stable and predictable living environment which will support and encourage their investment in treatment.

YCRP (PDF)

This program provides services for 11 boys with a full scale IQ between 60 and 75 who are experiencing severe emotional, behavioral, social and/or family problems that require placement outside of their homes. Children in this program are typically in need of medium to long term placement. Particular emphasis is placed on skill building with a long term goal of achieving a level of social, vocational and educational competency which allows for a higher degree of independent functioning.

HTP-IDED (PDF)

This program provides services for 18 boys who reside in our Hard to Place program but no longer require an HTP level of care but whose social skill deficits and emotional dysregulation impede their ability to successfully negotiate the more normalized peer environment. Residents will learn and practice independent living skills with a dedicated ILS Specialist and work closely with the Family Services Coordinator to create and work towards their permanency goal in the most appropriate time frame.

HTP-IC (PDF)

Community Based

This program provides services for 6 girls and 8 boys from Tompkins County who present with behavioral and/or mental health needs as well as emotional dysregulation. The primary goal is to prevent residential placement while preserving the family unit through intensive family therapy, assistance with homework and remedial school work, and on-call crisis support. Clients in this program are often enrolled in the Day School Program at the George Junior Republic UFSD located on our campus.

Therapeutic After-School program (PDF)

Clinical

Our on-campus Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Program housed in VanClef Cottage serves adolescents who are diagnosed with alcohol and/or substance use disorder, or who have demonstrated impairment as a result of alcohol and/or substance use by a family member or significant other. The program is licensed by the New York State Office of Addiction Supports and Services (OASAS) and provides individual, group and family counseling.

Medical services are provided through the Agency’s nurses, consulting licensed physicians, and local hospital and health care centers. Psychiatric and psychological evaluations are conducted as needed. Our consulting psychiatrists are fully involved in the treatment planning process and are responsible for prescribing and overseeing the provision of psychotropic medicine. Our consulting psychologist is also fully integrated into the treatment planning process and provides individual and group clinical supervision.

Medicaid Managed Care Liaisons

Tina Beckman, Supervisor, 607.844.4576, beckmant@gjrmail.com
Faye Strauf, 607.844.6440, strauff@gjrmail.com
Madeline Gould, 607.844.6372, gouldm@gjrmail.com

Wellness & Growth

Paws First

For many youth, the interaction with a friendly, well-mannered dog can enhance the therapeutic process of their treatment by reducing anxiety, lifting their spirits, decreasing feelings of isolation, encouraging communication and providing comfort. The canine portion of the program is is a vehicle for employees and their pet dogs, with the assistance of a resident handler, to complete the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog training curriculum. The program is centered on positive reinforcement based dog training to increase youth’s confidence and independence, sense of purpose, self-esteem and safety awareness. Youth will additionally receive general knowledge of how to properly care for an animal. Once a dog successfully completes the CGC exam, they are able to “work” on campus with their owner.

The William George Agency provides eligible students with age appropriate job training, life skills, counseling, work readiness skills and meaningful work experience through Job Readiness Training, Independent Living Skills and our Vocational Program. The WGA has expanded our on vocational opportunities to include short-term certifications in various trades. Below are some of the current vocational training opportunities offered through WGA.

Apparel and Merchandise Print Shop

Students will learn how to properly and safely use and maintain printers, heat presses, and other types of machines used to create products. They will use software programs on computers and tablets to learn how to design apparel and merchandise. Agency youth who participate will learn and develop workplace skills, including business fundamentals, how to deliver excellent sales and customer service, and marketing basics.

Automotive/Auto Body

It is the responsibility of the automotive crew to maintain the Agency’s motor fleet. Students gain hands-on experience utilizing the Agency’s 80 fleet vans, cars and trucks. This program focuses on all standard vehicle preventative maintenance and repairs including, but not limited to; brakes, tires, wipers, detailing, electrical, suspension, OBD2 Emissions diagnostics, air conditioning, fluid services, and tune-ups.

Carpentry

This vocational position will include instruction on building materials, safe operation of power tools and hand tools used in construction. Students will learn safe work practices, while working with an instructor to gain hands on experience in the field. Students will be helping make interior and exterior repairs and new installations of windows, siding, doors and much more.

Computer Support & Glowforge

There are over 250 computers on campus that are built, serviced and maintained/supported by the computer support department. The students will receive experiences in the day-to-day operation of a computer department. Computer repair, trouble shooting, new equipment rollouts, software installations and upgrades and network infrastructure are the types of activities that students will learn about.

Students will also have the pleasure of learning and using the agency Glowforge machine. Students can create and customize plaques, key chains and many more items to benefit events or gift ideas. Students are given a safety course and directions on use before using the Glowforge machine.

Custodial (Recreation Building)

The recreational custodians clean and maintain the recreation building and equipment. Training consists of modern techniques used in cleaning and maintaining large buildings with use of equipment and cleaning products for promoting a clean and healthy environment that exists at the field house.

Custodial (School Building)

The custodians clean and maintain the school building and equipment. They promote the clean and healthy condition that exists at the school. Training consists of modern techniques used in cleaning and maintaining large buildings with use of equipment and cleaning products.

Electrical

This position consists of helping ensure the electrical maintenance of all the buildings on campus. Cleaning and inspecting all of the buildings smoke heads and heat heads, changing light bulbs, checking the batteries in the fire detection systems, as well as in the emergency lights, are just a few of the responsibilities for this job. The workers in this program also check fire panel boxes, fire extinguishers and exit lights to make sure everything is working properly. Students will learn basic electrical skills and the safety involved.

Equine Management

Students gain the practical skills needed to manage an equine facility through participation in the day-to-day operations of our stable and the care and handling of the horses. Students will learn various skills to include horse health and care, proper use and care of tack and equipment, equitation, training, and other skills used in maintaining the herd.

Ewald Dining Services (Culinary Arts)

Classroom instruction and hands on experience in all aspects of institutional food preparation and dining room service experience. Students also participate in catering activities held on campus. This includes graduations, agency gatherings and many bigger events held on campus.

Heavy Equipment

The duties of the heavy equipment crew are wide and varied. They maintain and repair the roads in the summer and keep them plowed in the winter. They also do pipeline construction, provide heavy equipment support for other work areas and maintain and repair all of their equipment. Training consists of safety training and the operation and repair of large bulldozers, backhoes and dump trucks.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

This position has the responsibility of maintaining and running the heating and cooling systems in campus buildings. Students learn the basic principles, installation techniques and maintenance of thermal comfort (heat) and refrigeration (air conditioning) and ventilation units.

Grounds Maintenance/Landscaping

This crew is in charge of maintaining more than 250 acres of lawn on campus. These students learn safe and proper use, maintenance and repair of mowing equipment, as well as the care and upkeep of the lawns and gardens. Students will also have the privilege of taking a training course on operating a Zero Turn Mower, small tractor and a standard riding mower. In the winter this crew is responsible for keeping our many walkways open and safe. This also involves the planning, planting and care of landscapes and the propagation of the plants used to create them. These employees help to make our outdoor setting beautiful.

Painting

Students in this program will learn about interior and exterior painting. Students will learn how to use rollers, brushes and eventually mechanical spray machines. Students will learn the proper maintenance required to clean and maintain equipment. Students will also learn how to enhance the appearance of buildings and make cottage living areas more attractive. They will learn about mechanical and chemical surface preparation as well about paints and their proper applications.

Plumbing

Students in the plumbing assist with the installation and maintenance of various mechanical and plumbing devices. Students will learn about installing and servicing new and old plumbing installations on campus, as well as pipefitting.

Upholstery

Most of our draperies are made and our furniture repaired and refinished in the Upholstery Shop. This crew learns to work with a variety of materials from fabrics to wood. Students learn to use both conventional and industrial sewing machines, numerous hand tools and a myriad of power tools in this work.

Warehouse/Stockroom

Students assist the warehouse staff with cleaning and organizing the agency’s stock room. Students will also learn customer service skills, proper operating of equipment and inventory. They will also learn ordering, labeling and stock piling merchandise needed to make cottages and buildings on campus run properly. Students will learn how to organize and itemize merchandise for pick up and distribution. Students will also maintain a clean and safe environment meeting all safety rules and regulations.

A multifaceted recreational program is available to all residents, with daily structured and unstructured activities in a variety of venues. Structured and unstructured recreation takes place in the newly renovated Boscowitz Field House. Adventure Based Counseling is offered at the James F. Purcell Project Adventure Building, an indoor ropes course facility.

Scholastic team sports
Soccer, baseball, basketball
Adventure based counseling
Structured recreation
Horseback riding
Swimming

Here at WGA Equine, we cater to about 24 horses, all varying in different shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and breeds. We pride ourselves on the care for our horses that have long made an impact on the youth that has crossed through our barn doors. We strive on making our barn environment a unique one but remains a safe, friendly and healing space for our residents. WGA Equine is operated by three amazing staff and the Equine Director, all with previous years of experiences related to the equine industry in varying disciplines. With such a wide range of talent in our department it allows our residents to learn an abundance of different riding disciplines, horse care management, grooming techniques, and more from our instructors.

Vocational

Our vocational programs allow our residents to step into the horse world to learn all things to do with the Equine Industry. There are many job opportunities that can be found within the Equine Industry, all to which we here at WGA Equine either have the residents learn by actually participating in the act themselves or providing them opportunities to have witnessed the jobs that the industry has to offer. We allow our vocational residents to be very hands on with all the equines we have on campus right down to the newborn foals, right up to our very experienced oldies. The residents also get the chance to work hand in hand with some of the leading industry jobs such as our veterinarians and farriers. The residents learn the basics of horse barn management, horse care, horse handling, equine training, and more, all while exploring the other options our industry has.

Recreational Riding

Recreational riding is conducted five days a week with four residents and a staff from their cottage to join them in our beautiful indoor. We teach our residents all the safety that goes into learning how to ride horses. As the residents progress we start to teach them more advanced maneuvers and even go into some other riding disciplines. We will even offer to take the residents to either watch or participate in local horse shows. In our recreational riding we also offer trail riding. There are many trail systems on the grounds some allowing us to ride right through the historical Dryden Rail Trail. Trail riding is done weather permitting and normally in the fall, spring, and a little during the summer months.

Volunteerism and Community Integration Therapies to Engage the Whole Youth

Dryden Kitchen Cupboard’s Weekend Backpack Program
The Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family, Kettle Bell Ringing and Soup Kitchen Programs
The Annual Fillmore Auto Show & Flea Market
Howd Nursing Home
Loaves and Fishes
Dryden Beautification Brigade
Montgomery Park Playground Project