1. Stars Behavioral Health Group ART/EQUIP Groups Implementation Project

2. ART/EQUIP Objectives For Participants to: Internalize the value that “caring is cool” Increase moral reasoning and judgment Improve their ability to manage anger Be able to identify and correct thinking errors Improve social skills Reduce aggression and related risk behaviors For Programs to: Adapt a proven practice for helping clients with aggression problems Increase the number of staff proficiently trained on the proven practice

3. Transforming the Culture Utilize the power of Positive Peer Culture to support youth voice, action, and responsibility Teaching & coaching specific skills using a proven curriculum

4. Aggression Replacement Training (ART) * Teaching and modeling social skills * Use of video, role playing, assignments * Beginning & advanced pro-social skills Identify and correct thinking errors * Anticipate consequences & rehearse alternatives * Move identity away from being victim or victimizer Address both reactive and proactive aggression Facilitate moral-cognitive development * Discussion of problem scenarios * Based on moral development theory * Intended for children and youth ages 3-18 to complete three one hour sessions per week over ten weeks. Can be implemented in school, clinic, residential or detention settings.

5. EQUIP: A Guided Mutual Help Program Positive Peer Culture Groups are Led by Peers Staff Function as Coach 6 to 9 Youth Meet 3-5x/Wk 60” to 90” per Meeting Five Phases of Meeting 1.Introduction 2.Problem Reporting 3.Awarding the Meeting 4.Problem Solving 5.Summary Focus on Personal Responsibility, Mutual Accountability & Thinking Problems

6. Pilot Program: Star View Adolescent Center SBHG piloted ART/EQUIP in a secure Community Treatment Facility (a high-end RTC in California) that serves adolescents, ages 11-17, who are among the most severely disturbed youth in California. Started with 6 boys on a residential dorm Youth selected due to their aggressive behaviors The overall residential population includes youth with varied presenting problems The pilot was successful and the program continues to run ART/EQUIP groups as regular part of Intensive Day Treatment rehabilitative services

7. Initial ART/EQUIP Results at Star View Adolescent Center

8. Residential Programs at Different Stages of ART/EQUIP Implementation

9. Test of Success At admission, the majority of youth (over 60%) in the program with the longer running history of ART/EQUIP was in a high or lateral level setting such as juvenile facility, psychiatric hospital, or another CTF. At discharge, the placement level of these youth had reversed with a majority (almost 70%) able to transition to lower levels including group homes, foster homes, and family homes. ART/EQUIP is now one component of this program that supports these kinds of good outcomes and provides discharged youth with the skills they need to successfully navigate their new home turf -- without aggression.

11. ART/EQUIP Developing a Positive Culture The ART/EQUIP program positively impacts the treatment culture, thereby transforming the lives of youth and young adults to become constructive contributors to their communities. The program is one component of Stars Behavioral Health Group that supports and provides discharged youth with the skills they need to successfully navigate their new home turf – without aggression.

12. The R.O.O.L.Z. R: Respect Others R: Respect Others (be nice) O: Open Up O: Open Up (talk about yourself) O: Offer Help To Others O: Offer Help To Others (they may need your support) L: Listen To Others L: Listen To Others (don’t interrupt) Z: “Zip It” Z: “Zip It” (what’s said in the group, stays in the group)

13. Please direct comments or questions to: Peter Zucker, Ph.D., V.P., Clinical Services Stars Behavioral Health Group Long Beach Regional Office 1501 Hughes Way Suite 150 Long Beach, CA., 90810 310-221-6337 x108 pzucker@starsinc.com