What is St. Anne's Institute all about?

St. Anne's Institute has:

* a client population of about 300, with residential care, day treatment care and the critical level unit serving girls. Sex abuse prevention services, the juvenile sex offender program, and clinical/vocational, preschool and the fee-for-service programs are coeducational.

* a school staff of 118, meaning there are six students for every teacher and teacher's aide in the junior-senior high school program and day treatment program, and 12 students for every teacher and teacher's aide in the preschool program.

* a junior-senior high school that offers all levels of high school diploma, and programs in high school equivalency, work experience and outdoor education. An individualized education plan is developed for each student and reviewed and adjusted throughout the year.

* help for preschool students, 3- and 4-year-olds who have been identified as having speech, language or behavioral problems. The early treatment program helps improve children's social and emotional functioning before integration into mainstream school programs.

* social services, such as psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, individual therapy, group therapy and case management services. The clinical department provides direct services to children and families, and also coordinates each child's treatment with other agency programs.

* day treatment, which serves young women who have difficulty in their home school districts.

* a critical level unit designed for residents with extraordinary needs, including behavioral, social, emotional and psychological problems. A psychiatrist prescribes and monitors medications for children's treatment and assesses their progress.

* a horticulture program, which requires students to be caregivers and reverses the usual dependent role in which an abused or emotionally disturbed teen lives. A portion of the produce grown is used in St. Anne's kitchen, and flowers are sold to staff; proceeds go back into the horticulture program. (PQ)