The best time to shape a mind was 10 years ago. The second best time is now!
A NEW OUTLOOK...BEGINNING TODAY!
building CHARACTER & life skills
Residential Life
The Residential Life portion of Beginning Today Youth Services, LLC is a cornerstone that encompasses more than just housing. At BTYS the residents live on campus as long as necessary. However, so much more than eating and sleeping happens in our facility. BTYS life provides a safe, nurturing, family-like atmosphere for the students to develop the skills necessary to have positive relationships with both adults (authority figures) and peers. Our facility follows a “Family Model” where each person has routines and responsibilities to help the family as a whole function successfully. Respect for the home as well as one another is modeled, helping residents to appreciate some things that they might have been taking for granted before BTYS.
The residents live in close quarters with each other and the staff. However, these close quarters serve the purpose of providing opportunities to build relationships. Although much of what we do at BTYS happens outside, due to weather or personal preference of the residents there are times we stay inside as well. However, inside does not mean residents lounging around by themselves or hiding in their rooms avoiding others. We engage the residents artistic sides through playing, listening to, or writing music with them. Sometimes we “just hang out” and play cards or board games, put together puzzles or read books. We take out markers, chalk, or paint and draw, craft, or do other projects with them. We have outdoor activities too such as basketball, corn hole, volleyball and more.
We encourage hands on non-digital activities mostly. It keeps them tactile and helps them develop cognitive learning. Of course we have tablets, laptop and desktop computers for them to use too. It is not what we do that matters, it is that we take the time to do things with them that lets them know they are important to us and that we care about them. All of these things are ways we build relationships with our residents. Along the way, we build trust and earn the right to speak into their lives inviting them to change and become the best versions of themselves.
resident LIFE
The residents at BTYS work in four different facets: Adventure, Therapy, Resident Life, and Academics.
The piece that weaves these things together is our BTYS Program. In each phase we teach the following learning components (Choosing, Listening, Implementing, Maturing, Believing) the resident has goals to meet in each facet.
At BTYS we are implementing cutting edge programs that appeal to the youth of today and stimulate growth in the new millennium world we now live in. We are exposing them to multimedia, music, video production and graphic arts micro programs to see what appeals to them most and captures their desire to carve out a way to function in today’s society with the skills necessary to be employed or start their own business.
As the residents meet their goals, the person responsible for overseeing that area signs their approval that the goal was met. When all goals for the phase are signed off, the resident becomes eligible for promotion to the next phase.
The staff members working with the residents all have input as to whether the resident has met or exceeded the goals for the phase and vote whether or not to promote the residents to the next phase. Upon completion of phase B, the residents have only a few requirements left before the process begins for their transition out of Beginning Today Youth Services to their home.
WE'RE ALL IN
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IS OUR PASSION
Our staff provides guidance to our residents, and they receive the full attention that is needed to address the individual mental health constraints they are suffering from. Through our staff and individualized treatment plans that we put in place, each resident learns the skills they need to handle life’s challenges.
We place a strong focus on character development that is crucial for the ability to face and overcome the life pressures young people deal with on a day-to-day basis. We rely on a focused emphasis while guiding teens towards making better life decisions.
The residents at BTYS benefit from individual, family, and group counseling, along with daily educational outdoor experiences that strengthen their fortitude to remain vigilant in their quest to change.