Reality Based Academy

The group center program RBA will work with its clients to engender positive family and social relationships.

PURPOSE

Reality Based Academy (RBA) is a group center program for eight adolescent boys, ages 13 - 18 that have been placed out of their homes due to abuse, neglect, and delinquency issues. RBA will provide a residential program that has a stable and structured atmosphere for adolescents, so that they will be able to access and utilize their strengths to develop new skills that prepare them to re

turn home or prepare for independent living. GOAL
Reality Based Academy staff will help these adolescent boys to develop healthy relationships with family, and community through learn how to control impulsive thoughts and behavior as well as expressing emotions appropriately and with clarity. The life coach will help implement the objectives of the youth’s individual plan through individual work and positive problem solving. Reality Based Academy will do school visits and community contacts. Family problems can certainly contribute to delinquent behavior in many ways. The RBA staff will devote its energy to having delinquent youth become accountable for their own behavior which gives them the power to change their own lives. We will encourage the development of valuable natural support systems (e.g. Extended family, community, friends and church members) and work to remove obstacles (e.g. adolescents drug abuse, high stress and poor family relations) to increase their chances of a successful adulthood. Adolescents will set goals with staff that directly address factors that contribute to delinquency. Objective

Progress toward goals will also be encouraged through a series of groups and activities designed to increase personal awareness of current behaviors and attitudes. Teach basic skills, competencies and provide a vehicle for in-depth group discussion of significant issues in the lives of adolescents. Group topics include but are not limited to: Anger management, recovering from substance abuse, victim awareness, social skills, family development, music appreciation and media awareness, HIV education, gang and violence intervention to prevention, homelessness and growing food for a community. The program has other important components encompassing theater and book writing, which is an integral part of the program through which adolescents achieve a sense of cohesiveness and trust. The “togetherness” fostered by this trust and cohesiveness is an important part of the healing and learning process. RBA will also use a child’s need for humor, fun and rewards to address youth issues and barriers to self sufficiency. We will make lessons tangible so they can see, touch, hold, feel, and understand how self-sufficiency fits in with their everyday lives.