Programs

Youth Education Support Services (YESS)

YESS is an innovative treatment program, dedicated to promoting academic and mental health success for severely emotionally disturbed children and youth in partnership with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD). YESS operates an unparalleled elementary and secondary school that each run on the school district’s calendar.

The YESS schools are committed to educating the clients as a whole person, accounting for who they are as an individual to foster success academically and beyond. YESS boasts an excellent student-teacher ratio of no greater than 3 to 1 that allows for necessary one-on-one attention not available to children and youth with high need levels in traditional educational institutions. By helping clients work on behavioral goals and academic assignments, they are better equipped to return to and be successful in a less restrictive school environment. Alternatively, older clients who have not been successful elsewhere work on their studies to graduate from high school and prepare themselves for life after public school.

 

YESS is proud to provide clients with exciting and adventurous opportunities in which to foster personal growth that children in FCSA services would not typically be exposed.

Youth Education Support Services (YESS)

YESS Elementary Orcas

YESS Elementary Orcas logo

YESS programs offer an array of services that include individual and group therapeutic behavioral health services, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and case management to clients and their families. YESS utilizes active interventions such as positive role modeling, preventative teaching, positive verbal prompts, encouragement, coaching, role play and problem solving, while working on skill specific activities aimed at helping clients learn adaptive skills while working on their treatment goals and future success in all domains. These services are provided through many delivery systems such as academics, age specific developmental skill building, relationship building activities, recreational and vocational activities.

Contact for Ages 6-13

YESS Secondary Caribou

YESS Secondary Caribou logo
YESS programs use evidence-based practice models such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including an emphasis on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Solution Focused Therapy. Both CBT and Solution-focused therapy are a briefer, time-limited form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the role of rational thinking in how individuals feel and behave, the development of specific and measurable goals, and focus on developing a plan of action or a solution to address a client’s current situation.

Contact for Ages 14-18

Summer Skills Development (SSD)

Summer Skills Development (SSD) logo
Summer Skills Development staff work with clients ages 5-13 during the summer months to develop, practice and maintain social and life skills requisite to healthy academic, familial and peer relationships. The SSD program is progressively designed to help children maintain contact with a school-like setting during summer vacations while addressing behavioral goals and developing skills for a successful return to school. The daily activities are fun and engaging. Each day presents new and exciting adventures both indoors and outdoors. For youth ages 14-18 the Vocational/Work Study Skills program strives to instill sound work ethic and solid vocational skills for older clients by providing them with an opportunity to work in a paid position complete with benefits and responsibilities. Being successful at a job has proven very therapeutic for client workers, providing them with a positive employment experience while boosting their self-esteem and resume. Additionally, clients who choose to complete the necessary coursework can earn additional high school credits. This comprehensive program runs for a ten-week period during the summer and has been so successful with students that there is typically a wait list for participants.

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Scope of Services

‍YESS/SSD programs offer an array of services that include individual and group therapeutic behavioral health services, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and case management to clients and their families. YESS utilizes active interventions such as positive role modeling, preventative teaching, positive verbal prompts, encouragement, coaching, role play and problem solving, while working on skill specific activities aimed at helping clients learn adaptive skills while working on their treatment goals and future success in all domains. These services are provided through many delivery systems such as academics, age specific developmental skill building, relationship building activities, recreational and vocational activities.

FAQ's

Answers to frequently asked questions about YESS
By way of the students IEP team and the Special Education Department at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
Ages 7-12
Yes. Both YESS programs have an on staff clinician
Yes, the clinician will do an intake with you and your students. During this intake you will complete the paperwork for FCSA and do the enrollment for the school district (if you haven’t done so already). At this time a treatment plan will be set up for your students. The treatment plan will be updated every 90 days.
Yes, the school district provides transportation during the school year.
9:30am – 3:30pm
Yes, the program severs breakfast, lunch and a snack daily.
Academic grades are sent home quarterly. Treatment plan goal are reviewed every 90 days.
There is the potential for summer activities for your student. Summer Skills Development combines 145 hours of paid work with 15 hours of classroom training on work readiness skills to give students valuable work experience.
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