"Woodland Hills is unique as a model of best practices in peer group treatment. Behavioral scientists have described the process by which antisocial youth train one another in delinquency. Woodland Hills turns this around by creating groups which teach pro-social values of caring for one another. I know of no other program that has made more contributions to the treatment of troubled youth than Woodland Hills."

Larry K. Brendtro, Ph.D.
Past President of Reclaiming Youth International
Co-Author of "Positive Peer Culture"

> Residential Treatment Corrections

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For over forty years, our Residential Treatment Corrections program has been a resource for adjudicated and social service placed youth in need of services to address behavioral, emotional, chemical and mental health needs. We believe that all youth have inherent strengths and potential which need to be identified and developed in order to overcome negative value systems, thought processes and behaviors. To that end, this gender­-responsive program uses an individualized treatment plan to identify and address criminogenic risk factors, utilizes evidence­-based practices and empowers clients to invest in the process of change. Our goal is to reduce risk, stabilize behaviors and teach responsibility in order to restore youth successfully back to their community. Typical length of stay is 6 to 9 months but can be extended based upon individual need.

With research-­based curriculums and a strength-­based, multi­-modal therapeutic approach, a variety of services are provided to clients in our care:

Psycho educational curriculums

• Aggression Replacement Training (ART)
• Independent life skills (ACLSA)
• TruThought Corrective Thinking Process
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Therapeutic services

• Behavioral group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Family therapy
• Psychiatric consultation (as needed)
• Outpatient chemical dependency program

Skills groups

• Cultural education
• Interpersonal skills
• Social skills
• Young Men's Work (violence prevention)
• VOICES (self-discovery & empowerment for girls)

Educational services

• IEP/Personal Education Plan
• Credit recovery

Cultural/spiritual awareness

• African American Student Association
• Native American Student Association
• Non-denominational spiritual guidance

Additional services

• Animal (4-H) and garden husbandry
• Transition planning
• Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) programming
• Service-learning opportunities
• Community service/restitution

Funding Sources

• Title IV-E eligibility
• Minnesota Consolidated Fund

Eligibility

• Peer-oriented males and females with an IQ of 80+
• Ages 12-17 (up through age 20 if under Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ)
• Youth involved with juvenile justice or social service systems; voluntary placements through social services
• Youth displaying conduct or oppositional behaviors