Mission:
The mission of Aspire 2 Dream is to create a safe nurturing environment for teen girls to learn and grow. In doing so we use Trust-based Relational Intervention (TBRI) as a culturally competent and trauma-informed model to provide a home setting, counseling, and transitional living skills that advance positive youth development. The purpose of transitional living skills is for each girl to build protective factors and develop necessary life skills that empower them to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Consistent with TBRI principles, Aspire 2 Dream meets and anticipates the needs of teen girls by creating an environment of felt safety with a healthy and supportive balance between nurture and structure. Through the implementation of TBRI and affirming practices, teen girls who live at Aspire 2 Dream experience a loving family environment and acquire skills that prepare them to make healthy and productive choices for success in life. At Aspire 2 Dream we DREAM BIG and create BRIGHT FUTURES.
Goal and Purpose:
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The goal of Aspire 2 Dream’s General Residential Operations is to foster a commitment in young people that promotes pro-social friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and a sense of hope for endless opportunities for their future. The organization’s residential facility provides Moderate, and Specialized levels of care for female youth between the ages of 12 – 17 with emotional distress that impacts their mental health, educational performance in school and/or quality of life.
Aspire 2 Dream’s Residential Operations philosophy is to provide a safe, friendly, facility where all girls, including those who have had exposure to relational trauma and adverse childhood experiences, have the opportunity to build trusting relationships, consistently experience felt safety and predictability in their physical and social environment at the facility, and build or strengthen critical competencies for personal growth, including self-awareness, self-regulation, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Aspire 2 Dream recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences on both the population its serves as well as the providers and staff who deliver services.
Therefore, the organization’s use of TBRI is reflective in universal trauma precautions that are anchored in:
· Treating everyone like there is a possibility they have had trauma exposure
· Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships.
· Promoting interactions that are consistent with creating a physical and social environment of felt safety.
· Encouraging the practice of mindful awareness and reflection.
· Recognizing how experiences matter across the lifespan and influence one’s trajectory.
· Avoiding judgements and actions that can re-traumatize those who have had a history of trauma.
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Strategic Plan for Aspire 2 Dream
Click pdf link to review our strategic plan
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We believe all young ladies can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and be successful.
Who we serve:
Adolescents acceptable for placement include, but are not limited to:
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Adolescents who have experienced some form of trauma in their lives, such as psycho-social stressors including physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
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Adolescents who have exhibited behavior as a result of these stressors such as impulsive behaviors, poor interpersonal skills, moderate verbal and physical aggression, and/ or emotional instability. These youths may have exhibited impairments in social, occupational and/or academic functioning as a result of emotionally disturbed behavior.
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Adolescents who exhibit a pattern of disturbance as diagnosed in the psychological and psychiatric evaluation as oppositional and defiant behavior, bi-polar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, attachment disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, major depressive disorders, adjustment disorders, conduct disorder, and/or attention deficit disorders.
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Adolescents who have the cognitive ability to benefit from the components of the program. Youth with a diagnosis of ID will be evaluated on a case by case basis only.
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Adolescents who may be at moderate risk of causing harm to self and others or have a history of self-injurious behaviors.
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Adolescents who are able to function at a public school and interact outside of the facility.
Our Program Model
Our program model is designed to:
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·Provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment for each youth that is free of abuse and neglect.
·Teach pro-social behaviors and positive decision-making skills. Increase youth’s self-concept and self-esteem through therapeutic activities, such as individual, family, and/or group counseling, opportunities to participate in positive and fun recreational activities, and focusing on their positive qualities and attributes.
·Provide each youth with an educational experience in a local school where they can make friends and develop interests outside of the facility.
·Encourage each youth to participate in age-appropriate activities outside of the facility (i.e. sports, various school clubs, attending sporting events, dances, prom and homecoming, etc.)
·Connect youth with their community in order to learn pro-social behaviors.