SEARHC’s Raven’s Way Campus, previously based in Sitka, transitioned in spring 2023 to the Juneau Youth Services site. SEARHC Raven’s Way helps youth and families develop the tools necessary to succeed. Our campus in Juneau provides emergency, residential and community-based mental health to all Alaskan youth.
Our Approach
SEARHC Raven’s Way provides individualized, strengths-based services to children and their families, in the most comfortable and least restrictive setting. The programs at our SEARHC Raven’s Way campus simulate home-like environments that emphasize the development of positive, nurturing relationships. The primary goal is to maintain or reunite the child with their family whenever it’s in the best interest of the child. We offer social and recreational opportunities because we believe they assist in the child’s development and a successful return to the community.
Raven’s Way Lighthouse Program | Co-ed 12-18
The SEARHC Raven’s Way Lighthouse program, formally known as Juneau Youth Services Lighthouse program, is a co-ed residential treatment program designed for adolescent boys and girls ages 12 to 18 demonstrating an inability to adjust and progress in a family setting, therapeutic treatment home, outpatient counseling or other structured treatment placement. Young people participating in the Lighthouse program need the environment of the facility to develop the social, behavioral and coping skills necessary to live in the community.
Lighthouse is a highly structured program providing person-centered individual, group and family-based treatment. The program also provides behavior modification, education, and pro-social recreational opportunities to increase positive behavior, improve functioning and well-being, and facilitate a safe return to a stable living arrangement in the community.
Many of the young people participating in the Lighthouse program have participated in less restrictive services but have not been able to remain safe in their homes and/or communities. Young people participating in Lighthouse often return to their homes with community-based supports in place to ensure continued success. Young people who have completed a higher level of care and whose needs exceed successful placement in the community/ home setting also meet admission criteria for the Lighthouse Program.
The program provides a variety of therapeutic services including:
- Determination of an accurate diagnosis.
- Behavioral stabilization and management.
- Comprehensive individual treatment planning focused on continued care and the young person’s long-term needs.
- Individual, family and group therapy.
- Maintenance and improvement of the young person’s educational progress and development of an Individualized Education Program for each young person (coordinating with the school IEP team as needed).
- Developing independent living skills.
- Developing a plan for subsequent placement.
Teaching Family Model
The SEARHC Raven’s Way Lighthouse program is strength-based and uses the Teaching Family Model. Treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team. The youth will learn and practice a variety of social skills including communication, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, self-regulation and anger management. The program uses the Teaching Family Motivation System where youth earn points for using their skills. Points are used to access special privileges and advance through systems towards graduation. The use of points as an external motivator is faded out toward the end of treatment when youth can use social skills and self-regulation skills more independently and have developed internal motivators for maintaining and continuing positive changes.
Strong family involvement is essential to the youth’s progress in the program and participation in family therapy is expected. Regular family visiting hours are part of the program schedule. Out-of-town families are invited to visit (Medicaid travel is arranged by the case manager every 90 days). Staff updates families and guardians weekly about the youth’s progress.
Admission Criteria
The program is open to youth ages 12-18 years old and must have an assessment completed by one of the following, recommending residential treatment:
- A psychiatrist with an MD or DO
- An independently licensed psychologist
- A licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, or clinical social worker
If a current assessment is not available, SEARHC can provide one.
Staffing
The Lighthouse program provides services 24/7. Staff is on-site and available for support during day and night hours. A Juneau School District Teacher and an aide provide educational services in an on-site classroom.
Each youth is assigned to a case manager and a master’s level clinician. All staff having contact with youths are at least 21 years old and can be male or female. All staff have been provided with the following training:
- First aid and CPR
- Teaching Family pre-service workshop and ongoing training
- Relationship building
- Communication skills
- Teaching discipline
- Clinical diagnoses
- De-escalation and crisis intervention including nationally recognized de-escalation techniques
- Clinical issues such as FASD, trauma, substance abuse, etc.
- Cultural competence
- Food handler certification
Program Costs
Indian Health Service (IHS), Medicaid, or private insurances cover the cost of treatment and travel for most youth. If you don’t have health insurance, SEARHC’s Patient Health Benefits team is available to answer patient coverage questions. For assistance, please contact outreach@searhc.org or call 907.966.8684.
Referrals
SEARHC Raven’s Way Campus accepts referrals for youth from across Alaska. Any young person, parent, guardian or professional can initiate a referral for our program.
Record Requests
For current and historical SEARHC Raven’s Way patient record requests, please visit our Health Records Request page here.
For historical Juneau Youth Services (JYS) patient record requests, complete the JYS Release of Information Form and contact the JYS Records Department below:
JYS Records Department
Phone: 907.789.7610, ext. 104 | Fax: 907.789.8401
Email: records@jys.org
Contact Us
Please contact our Raven’s Way Intake Specialist with questions or for referral information and intake packets.
SEARHC Raven’s Way Campus | Intake Specialist
Phone: 907.789.7610 | Fax: 907.789.8443
Email: rwintake@searhc.org