Have you ever wondered what exactly a Spurwink school is or how it differs from the public schools? Our four locations in Lewiston, Portland, Cornville, and Chelsea offer children’s day treatment programs, operating as certified Special Purpose Private Schools. These schools provide both educational and behavioral health services to approximately 180 students, ranging from kindergarten to high school.
Each location has a variety of services and tools to meet students’ needs including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy rooms, multi-purpose rooms (think art, music, or wood projects), student kitchen, classrooms, and sensory rooms. Varying by location, schools have basketball courts, playgrounds, fields, hiking, rope courses, and other activity options.
When a student enters a day treatment program, they are provided an Individualized Education Program (IEP) tailored to their needs. Then, multi-disciplinary teams work together to provide an IEP and a relevant Individualized Treatment Plan that align to state and federal standards.
Many students in these programs have not experienced success in other learning environments and require a variety of tools in effort to find a solution that will work for them. Specialized instruction, often outlined in an IEP, include the use of innovative technologies, such as online learning programs, interactive whiteboards, laptops, media devices, and smart devices.
Students also receive individualized and comprehensive mental health treatment in our programs, which includes a therapeutic environment and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI). Programs include ongoing assessment and frequent 1:1 attention from Spurwink educational staff, trained in both educational and clinical practices, as well as highly structured programs. Other services available include substance abuse assessment and treatment, a primary therapist, and psychiatric medication management. Treatment planning includes parents, public school personnel, and the student.
All services and staff follow an integrated plan and a daily schedule that are consistent and predictable to help students keep on course for learning and treatment.
For more information about Spurwink’s schools, call the Spurwink LINK team at 207.871.1200 or email spurwinkschools@spurwink.org.