Philosophies & Evidence Based Practices

Philosophies

Positive Youth Development (PYD)

Positive youth development (PYD) is a comprehensive framework outlining the supports young people need in order to be successful. PYD emphasizes the importance of focusing on youths’ strengths instead of their risk factors to ensure that all youth grow up to become contributing adults. Kids who feel safe, valued and connected to caring adults are more likely to be positive about life, engaged in school and emotionally healthy; they also are less likely to participate in destructive or delinquent behavior. This research, although it seems based upon common sense, has led to a dramatic shift in thinking about youth policy—from viewing some youth based on their risk factors or deficits versus viewing all youth as having certain strengths, assets and protective factors to build upon.

Trauma Informed Care

All of CK’s programs and services are based in trauma informed care. This care is directed by an understanding of neurological, biological, psychological and social effects of trauma. We assess children to learn when trauma occurred in their lives and how long it lasted. Some trauma includes: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, severe neglect, loss, witnessing violence, substance abuse, imprisoned family member, and abandonment. Understanding when trauma occurred helps us tailor our responses, treatment and services. Trauma-informed assessments and interventions always acknowledges, respects, and integrates cultural values, beliefs, and practices.

Keeping Families Together (KFT)

All services are designed to help children and strengthen their families so that children can remain safely in their own homes. We work with families that are below the federal poverty level; have multiple challenges and are at risk of breaking apart or losing their children to Georgia’s Department of Family and Children Services. Often these are young families with complex and interrelated problems such as poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, substance abuse and teen pregnancy. Many of these risk factors impair family functioning and put children at risk of abuse and neglect. We work in partnership with these families to addresses the issues they may have and the obstacles they encounter. The goal is to build on existing family strengths, increase the stability of families, increase parental confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, and enhance overall family functioning to prevent initial or subsequent child abuse and neglect.

Evidence Based Practices

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a clinic based treatment that involves individual sessions with the child and parent as well as joint parent-child sessions. The goal of TF-CBT is to address the unique bio-psycho-social needs of children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other problems related to traumatic life experiences. This therapy is for children ages 3 to18 who have significant behavioral and emotional difficulties that are related to traumatic life events. The Kaufman Best Practices Report describes TF-CBT as the only accepted evidence-based treatment for sexually abused children. TF-CBT is one of only three treatments for child abuse that is identified as an "efficacious, well-supported treatment." Thus, it is truly considered best practice for treating children having experienced trauma. The goal is to demonstrate improvement in many areas of child functioning, such as a reduction in the frequency and severity of trauma symptoms, reduced shame and abuse-related attributions, decreased depressive and anxiety symptoms, and diminished disruptive and sexualized behaviors.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is focused on helping an individual understand how changing their behavior can lead to changes in how they are feeling. The goal of behavioral therapy is usually focused on increasing the person’s engagement in positive or socially reinforcing activities. Behavioral therapy is a structured approach that carefully measures what the person is doing and then seeks to increase chances for positive experience. Common techniques include:

• Self-Monitoring — This is the first stage of treatment. The person is asked to keep a detailed log of all of their activities during the day. By examining the list at the next session, the therapist can see exactly what the person is doing.
• Schedule of Weekly Activities — This is where the person and therapist work together to develop new activities that will provide the person with chances for positive experience.
• Role Playing — This is used to help the person develop new skills and anticipate issues that may come up in social interactions.
• Behavior Modification — In this technique the person receives a reward for engaging in positive behavior.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is evidence-based, which means that it is supported by research that proves that it is effective in helping people make emotional and behavioral changes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel/act better even if the situation does not range.Cognitive-behavioral therapists seek to learn what their clients want out of life (their goals) and then help their clients achieve those goals. The therapist's role is to listen, teach, and encourage, while the client's roles is to express concerns, learn, and implement that learning.

Play Therapy

Play therapy allows a child/youth to express emotions through “play.” Play therapy is used as a therapeutic method to assist in coping with emotional stress or trauma. It is highly successful for children or youth who are; distraught due to family problems, nail biters, bed wetters, aggressive or cruel, social underdeveloped, or victims of child abuse. Play therapy allows a child or youth to manipulate the world on a smaller scale, something that cannot be done in the child's everyday environment. CK has a state-of-the-art play therapy environment with specialized toys, dolls and other selected materials. Under the guidance of a trained clinician, the child or youth plays out feelings, which brings up hidden emotions. Typically this therapy is used for children ages 3-11 and is also used with older youth up to age 18.