All of our treatment interventions are designed to provide trauma informed treatment to youth and their families. Through the lens of trauma informed care, we utilize the Skills for Life treatment model and Applied Behavioral Analysis model.
Skills for Life (SFL)
Skills for Life (SFL) is a strength-based, comprehensive treatment model designed by Hillcrest Educational Centers for the purpose of providing trauma informed care to the students served by our treatment programs. This model has been developed through an extensive process of training, research and consultation, and trial and error. It is a model that utilizes best practices and evidence-based practices in the field of trauma informed care. Additionally, the model utilizes what we have identified as our own best practices. These practices have been identified through a long history of treating children with a myriad of complex presenting problems, children who have had life experiences such as trauma, losses, life disruptions, learning impairments, and developmental delays.

The following provides concepts and interventions we utilize, and the connected practices:
1) HEC strives to utilize best practices for residential treatment, and utilizes the works and findings of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). BBI promotes youth voice & choice, youth driven, and family guided practices. In doing so, BBI offers practices that support reduced length of stay and promote reunification and permanency. See buildingbridges4youth.org.
2) HEC incorporates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills throughout all parts of programming, including weekly DBT skills group therapy, use of DBT skills in treatment planning, individual and family therapy, subsequent skill coaching by milieu staff. DBT boasts a long history of successful treatment outcomes. See behaviortech.org.
3) Hillcrest has committed to training staff in all departments in the use of Collaborative Problem Solving’s (CPS) approach to teaching youth skills through approaches aimed at honoring the youth’s perspective on the problem, exploring alternate solutions, and building lagging skills that contribute to behavioral problems. See thinkkids.org.
4) Based on outcome evidence for Dr. Ricky Greenwald’s trauma treatment model, HEC trains its clinical staff in his therapy model and incorporates interventions in Skills for Life that reflect the language and treatment steps utilized in his model. See childtrauma.com/research.
5) Hillcrest utilizes Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (see other sections for rigorous training requirements of all staff). Developed by Cornell University, there is rich evidence that this model offers successful interventions that reduce and eliminate dangerous behaviors through key verbal interventions and a deep understanding of the impact of trauma as well as the conflict cycle. See http://rccp.cornell.edu.

Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis is a research based treatment method that has been proven to be effective in treating the difficulties associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The methods employed in this model rely on data collection procedures to prove that the methods employed are responsible for the positive changes that occur in student behavior. The focus will be on socially significant behaviors such as acquiring news skills and decreasing challenging maladaptive behaviors. The purpose of these behavioral changes is to improve the overall quality of life for that individual. Clinical services are provided by individuals licensed and certified in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.