In addition to providing general mental health services, such as individual, couples and family counseling and various types of assessments, VCC offers a variety of specialized treatment programs including those listed below. (Note: Click on underlined titles for printable flyer)
The VCC Sexual Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program provides pioneering services and is one of the leaders in North Florida in the provision of services for children and adolescents with sexual behavior problems (SBP). VCC staff have successfully evaluated and treated over a thousand children and juveniles with sexual issues including sexual acting out, child-on-child sexual abuse and sexual abuse. Our goal is to help children and teens transcend the trauma of early sexual abuse, learn appropriate sexual behavior and provide the opportunity to pursue healthy, productive lives.
The Adoption Success Program (ASP) is VCC's newest program and was developed to provide education and support to prospective and post adoptive families and children regarding the social, emotional, and cultural challenges involved in the adoption process. The critical goal of this program is to increase the long term success rate and quality of care in permanent adoptive placements. Therapeutic support is provided through individual, family, and group sessions. The focus of these sessions is to learn and utilize the skills necessary to cope with the grief and loss that precedes adoption, to build new trusting supportive relationships, and to transition into a long term, loving and successful family unit. All adoptive services are provided by Certified Adoption Counselors who have completed over 40 hours of specialized training through the State of Florida.
VCC provides trauma-based treatment for children and adolescents (ages 4-18) who have experienced various forms of trauma (e.g., abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, etc.) and who need specialized treatment. VCC has been providing Trauma Focused Therapy for children and adolescents for over 10 years. We offer a range of services dedicated to helping survivors of trauma including specialized assessments, treatment and support services. All VCC Therapists providing treatment as part of the Youth Trauma Recovery Program have been trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT was given an "Exemplary Program Award" in 2001 and recognition as a Model Program since 2003 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In 2004 it was named a Best Practice by the Kauffmann Best Practices Task Force of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and was given the highest classification for an evidence-based practice by the U.S. Department of Justice sponsored report, "Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatment."
Although many think of violence between intimate partners as an adult problem, violence and dating is a growing social concern related to teenagers and young adults. The purpose of the VCC Domestic Violence Prevention Program is to provide education and support to children and adolescents so they can make healthy choices regarding future relationships. Teens who understand how to make healthy decisions in their own relationships will be better able to avoid potentially abusive situations and partners in the future. Also, by modeling positive behavior, a growth and understanding about healthy intimacy will occur. This program is for children who have been exposed to DV as well as children and teenagers who are already targeting family members and/or their partners.
An increasing number of children are being reported to sexually act out and abuse other children within their homes as well as in the community, such as foster care, schools, daycare facilities and after school programs. The VCC Specialized In-Home Therapy Program is designed to help treat children with sexual behavior problems and to decrease the risk of any future sexual acting out behavior. The program is staffed by experienced, specialized clinicians and case managers who visit client's home to implement safety plans and offer short-term counseling services. Parent education is also offered in the homes to help caregivers recognize high risk factors and prevention strategies as well as develop interventions to help if their children act out in sexual ways. The overall goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of child-on-child sexual abuse and is made available for clients when outpatient services are not possible or sufficient.
A comprehensive assessment is an in-depth and detailed assessment of a child's emotional, social, behavioral and developmental functioning with their family, at school and in the community. When a child in Florida is sheltered and becomes involved with DCF Protective Services, they refer that child for a Comprehensive Assessment. There are several agencies that conduct these assessments, including the Village Counseling Center. To complete a CBHA, specialized assessors talk with certain agencies and/or individuals that know the child and/or family and then make recommendations regarding the child and family to help preserve the family and ensure the safety of the child. For more information, contact Shannon Walker at shannon@villagecounselingcenter.net .
VCC TRAINING'S
VCC has provided customized training programs for various agencies including the Department of Children and Families, Department of Juvenile Justice, Partnership for Strong Families, Guardian ad Litem Program, Henry and Willa White Foundation, Family Preservation Services, University of Florida, Children’s Legal Services and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, among others. VCC has successfully trained both professional and paraprofessional staff, direct-care workers, foster parents and community volunteers on topics such as Child Sexual Abuse, Children with Sexual Behavior Problems, Adolescents Who Sexually Abuse, Children and Trauma, Adoption Issues and Child Self Mutilation. VCC training programs have ranged from one hour to over 65 hours with most being approved for CEU's. Please contact Robert Edelman for more information related to any of the trainings listed, proposal requests and/or references. Click here for a detailed list of trainings.
VILLAGE COUNSELING CENTER
Programs
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
Lady Bird Johnson,
Former U.S. First Lady
