River Oak Center

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    teacher and student group discussion

    Contact River Oak Center

     
    The River Oak Center offers students an opportunity to grow (academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually) by integrating the principles of recovery into daily education.
     
    The Center integrates a high school academic curriculum with the development of supportive life skills necessary for students in recovery from alcohol and substance use. All program staff are certified educators and specialists who are responsible for providing appropriate academic programming and oversight both in and outside of school. Students are referred by schools, family members, courts and other state agencies, drug and alcohol treatment agencies, other community based youth programs, and residential programs. Prospective students must interview with the River Oak team prior to admission. In addition, students must achieve sobriety prior to attending River Oak and must consent to participate in random drug testing while enrolled. Students must also be committed to working an outside plan of recovery and must demonstrate commitment to academic achievement in pursuit of a high school diploma.

     

    Volunteerism - “giving back” is a core step of the 12-step program, and research has shown that it has a positive impact on a student’s personal, social and cognitive outcomes.

    YOGA - Certified Yoga instructor is on campus 2 times a week allowing students to participate in an age and ability appropriate class

    Weight Training - Students go off campus weekly to do weight training at a neighborhood High School nearby

    Gardening - Students go off campus once a week to work in the Arlington Community Garden growing food for the Arlington Community food bank for families in need.

    After School Program - Students participate in sports, group, and field trips in our program that meet s 2 times a week. Our instructional model engages students.  Teachers use textbook and online curricula, increased small group and one-on one instruction, and classroom management techniques to support students individually while others work independently.  Our student enrollment is designed to be small, so there are mixed-grade levels in each classroom

     
    Learning Support

     

    • All Students receive an individual learning plan designed around their needs and goals.
    • Our staff is well-versed in serving students with diverse learning styles and providing enrichment and remediation for learning differences as necessary. They come with years of experience in teaching in school communities with diverse learners.
    • Our instructional model requires that teachers scaffold lessons and assignments based on grade and developmental abilities. To that end, our staff uses research-based practices proven to meet the needs of diverse populations, including:
    • Before-learning strategies, such as activating prior knowledge and assessment of pre-skills;
    • Attention to sequencing of information;
    • Assessing the need for direct instruction and need for enrichment;
    • Direct instruction of learning strategies;
    • Use of graphic organizers and study guides.


    Counseling Services

    While the academic education is our paramount objective we recognize time during the school day for the development of tools and strategies for maintaining sobriety will help our students succeed on the life-long road to recovery as they continue to live, work, and play in their communities.

    Our Clinical Director and counselors facilitate daily group support meetings, offer strategies for building the resilience to bounce back from the disappointment and stress of everyday life that can trigger a relapse.

    Meet with our instructional staff routinely to provide updates on our students, and provide on-site crisis counseling and referrals for long-term individual and family therapy when needed.

    • Individual Counseling: Upon enrollment at ROC, each student works in collaboration with the school’s Recovery Counselor to develop his or her own individualized recovery plan. The Recovery Counselor, a licensed substance abuse mental health professional, meets regularly with the students to monitor and provide counseling regarding their recovery.
    • Recovery Groups: All ROC students participate in two Recovery focused groups per week. During these groups students, can reflect on their experiences in recovery. In addition, they receive information on various psycho-educational aspects of addiction as well as exposure to the concepts of the 12 Step Program.
    • Student-Run Self-Help Meeting: Every week all ROC students participate in a student run self-help meeting. This meeting follows the AA speaker meeting format and is intended to give students additional exposure to various self-help programs and the 12-step model.
    • Random Drug Testing: To ensure that River Oak Center remains a safe and sober environment, students are required to submit to random drug testing on a weekly basis.
    • Peer Culture: River Oak Center incorporates a strong peer culture in which all students identify as having an addiction and commit to supporting their fellow students as they face the challenges associated with early recovery.