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  INTRODUCTIONFor any parents/guardians with boys very new to the residential program and who don't realize this -- Harmony Hill encourages
visitation, but we are also realistic about the problems that have brought some of the boys to the residential treatment level of care; i.e., in some cases there are
very serious family issues the state child welfare or juvenile justice authorities are paying HHS to help with. Our initial visitation policy is general, but it can be
individualized. Work with us to assure that it meets your needs. We require that parent(s) or guardian(s) let us determine when the first
on-campus visit will occur, within the general guideline that we will always permit it within 30 days of placement. In most cases, it occurs long before that.
The progression of visitation from "on-campus" to "off-campus" to "home" to "home overnight" is based on clinical and/or probation criteria. Eligibility for any
"less supervised" level of visitation requires approval by the state worker, not by Harmony Hill. Harmony Hill, however, retains the ultimate right (under our licensing
by the State of Rhode Island) to indicate where the visit will take place, so long as visiting is taking place (per the Rhode Island Children's Bill of Rights). In
other words, when we believe the family is ready for more extensive visiting, we alert the state and through the state caseworker or probation officer, says yes or no.
However, there are rare situations where the state wants a certain form of visiting for which the Harmony Hill team does not believe the child/family ready.
We can decline such a state request, provided we allow on-campus visiting to continue. This type of situation rarely occurs, but parents and state workers must be aware of Harmony Hill's position and its legal basis. GUIDELINES
1) Any visitor to campus, whether parent, social worker, or salesperson (except for specific frequent repeat visitors--such as the cleaning service), must report to
the Main House and sign in. When leaving campus, the visitor must either sign out or tell a staff person that they are leaving; the staff must then sign the visitor out).
2) Any adult returning a youth to campus must physically escort the youth to the Reception Station in the Main House, sign the youth in, and then sign him or
herself (the adult) "in" or "in & out." Youth cannot simply be dropped off in the turn-around drive. 3) Only authorized adults (by the child's guardian or the state worker) will be
allowed to remove a child from campus, or for that matter, to visit. An unrecognized adult will be asked for identification before a child is allowed to visit
with them or turned over to them for transportation. It is not HHS weekend staffs' responsibility to "figure out" such situations. Authorization must occur in advance
with the youth's therapist. Any unauthorized adult will be asked to leave the campus. 4) All plans for visitation of any type that will occur on weekends, holidays or over
recess periods must be in place by the preceding Thursday at 3PM. Such plans must involve actual contact between the parent or state social worker and the
Harmony Hill Therapist. While there is room for parents/social workers to make standard arrangements with the HHS Therapists, if there hasn't been actual
contact by Thursday at 3PM, there can be no guarantee that the Therapist will take "callback" responsibility. 5) "Callback" Responsibility and the "Visiting Book": Parent/state social workers
must be aware that planning the logistics for 60 boys around visitation is very complex. We know that the factors involving just one family are apparent to you.
However, remember that Harmony Hill must be able to deal with (a) medication set up; (b) transportation to buses, trains; (c) last minute behavioral/emotional
problems; (d) notification, in many cases, to state workers; and (e) staffing and activity plans for the many boys who will not have visitations in these periods.
At 5PM on Thursdays we make plans for all the above factors. Between 5PM Thursday and 3PM Friday (when most off-campus overnights start) or 10AM Saturday (when many on-campus visits will take place), HHS staff cannot be
responsible for making or changing arrangements with parents WITH ONE EXCEPTION: For those parents who have followed the 3PM Thursday deadline with
an initial call, the Therapist or a Therapy Supervisor will be responsible for "callback" regarding any change in plans the parent calls in with before Friday at 3PM.
All HHS staff must follow the visitation plan the Therapist has placed in the Visiting Book at 5PM Thursday, unless the Therapist or a Director changes that
plan. While Therapists attempt to be available after Thursday at 3PM, this cannot be assured. Directors are very hard to reach on Fridays and will be conservative in making any changes.
6) Authorized Pick-up People: For any adult coming for the first time to pick up a youth or, after a youth has been at HHS for awhile, if there is any unusual pick-up
person, such people must be noted in the Visiting Book. So, when a parent/state worker makes the plan with the Therapist by Thursday at 3PM, this factor must
be communicated. If an adult shows up on a Saturday and is not known or listed in the Visiting Book, he or she will not be allowed to take the youth, no matter how far that person claims to have driven.
7) On Campus Visiting Times: During the school week, during the day, visitation is only allowed by state workers or youths' attorneys. In the evening, during the
school week, visitation by parents/siblings is only allowed after family therapy sessions. A Director must authorize any exception to the aforementioned.
During the school year, we offer boys a "brunch" on Sundays instead of breakfast and lunch. Rather than have a different schedule for the school year (September
thru June) and the summer, we've come up with a year-round schedule of weekend campus visiting "slots":
Saturdays |
Sundays |
10AM to 12 Noon
NO VISITING 12-2
2-4PM
5-7PM (You supply dinner) |
10-12 (You supply lunch during school year)
12-2 (You supply lunch during summer)
2-4PM
NO EVENING VISITS |
The reason you are asked to supply a take-out type meal or picnic (heating up of
meals is not possible) during certain time slots above is that, while you are visiting your son, we are feeding our general population in the cafeteria. We cannot
supply meals for families. Secondly, most families want privacy for the visit. As you know, when you report in at the Reception Desk, you will be assigned a
visiting area, especially for your meal. You will be expected to clean up or supervise your son in cleaning up the room at the end of your meal.
8) On Campus Visiting Areas: When the weather is nice, families will be given choices (with some limits if the visit must be staff observed), to visit indoors or
outside. Even when the visit is outside, Receptionist or Youth Care Supervisor may ask the family to stay in a certain location during the visit. When the
weather is cool or rainy, HHS is prepared to offer up to 8 separate visiting rooms. The adults involved with the visit (parents or state worker) must get a room assignment at the Reception Desk when they sign-in.
9) Supervision & Participation: If the family visit must be staff supervised, the HHS staff, or possibly a state caseworker, will instruct the participants on any
limitations/rules. If the on-campus visit is unsupervised, in addition to generally staying in the defined area or room (with leeway, of course to visit restrooms or
to see your son's dormitory), it is imperative that parents/state caseworkers supervise their son and any other children involved in the visit. Other Harmony Hill
client youth may be curious and come up to a family group during a visit. Introductions or brief verbal interaction are expected, but parents are asked to
advise such youth that they know the rule that they cannot join into a family visit (or to seek a staff person to assist). One other reminder--while activities such as
board games, hiking or tossing a baseball/basketball are allowed--family members, whether adults or children, are not to join into basketball, football or baseball
games with groups of youth on campus (this is allowed on Family Picnic Day, but not at other times). 10) Entry To Dorms: Parents and/or other family members and/or social workers
are not allowed in dorm living areas (whether or not their son is with them) unless (a) an Administrator or the dorm supervisor or coordinator approves, and (b) the
dorm has a minimum number of other students present. Line staff can assign dorm recreation rooms (on another floor than the living areas) for short periods for youth-family visitation interaction.
11) Pets: Parents are asked, if at all possible, to refrain from bringing pets to the campus. If a pet is brought, it is preferred that the pet be left in the vehicle on
the far side of the bridge to the campus, with the vehicle's windows left partly open. If a pet is to be brought out of a vehicle and onto campus (such as on a
very hot day when leaving the pet in the vehicle is not safe), the on-campus supervisor must be consulted first (either by phone, or by leaving the pet with a
responsible party near the car). The on-campus supervisor's decision will be final. The Agency takes no responsibility if the pet is injured on the campus. The pet
owner may be personally liable if the pet injures a student, staff member, or an animal on the campus.
12) Unit Visiting Program: We've saved one of the most important issues till last. As you know, your son is assigned to a residential unit. Bcause of different
age ranges and issues of the youth in the units, we have several different Unit Visitation Programs. There is reference in these programs to "visiting weekends" and "vacation periods." There is also a Calendar of visiting weekends and vacation periods. If you have any question
about the unit visiting programs, you should contact the Therapist or the Unit Supervisor or Coordinator. You should have been given those names when your son was admitted.
We are sure that there are details that have been overlooked. Parents/state workers are encouraged to ask the Therapist to respond to any concern about
visitation plans. When on campus, the Receptionist or Youth care Supervisor will make every attempt to be helpful. Again, the aforementioned guidelines have been
developed to make the visitation experience as organized, predictable and safe as possible. We believe this will best support the boys' treatment at our School. |
