Core Values
Employees are charged with the responsibility of promoting and strengthening the mental health of adolescents by exhibiting the core values that are at the heart of this mission:

• Teamwork
• Respect
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Safety

What We Do
Specialized Treatment Facility employs Milieu Therapy as the foundation for the treatment of its residents. Milieu Therapy is a planned treatment environment in which everyday events and interactions are therapeutically designed for the purpose of enhancing social skills and building confidence. This therapy uses common structures familiar to all children, such as daily routines, consistent rules and activities.

Psychotherapy is conducted by evidenced-based or best-practice models. STF currently uses:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS)

Residents participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions, recreational activities (physical education and arts and crafts) and attend classes at the facility’s on-site school. Residents are also expected to work on developing positive life skills such as maintaining a clean living environment. The Facility strives to maintain a safe and positive living environment in which residents can grow and learn.

How We Do It
The Facility, staff, programs, services, and atmosphere all come together to provide an environment that supports residents' physical and mental needs:

• School with curriculum centered on the academic needs of each individual student that may include a high school diploma, MOD (Mississippi Occupational Diploma), Life Skills Diploma or the GED program
• Gym and recreation center
• Individual, group, and family therapy sessions
• Trained dietary staff to ensure healthy meal plans
• Life skills development
• Private visitation rooms
• State-of-the-art residential buildings
• On-site maintenance
• Certified and licensed staff

Campus Layout
The campus consists of three residential buildings, capable of inhabiting 16 residents each, education building, gym, administration building, and warehouse. 

Residents' Rights
The Facility's residents are preserved and respected by the Facility's staff. If a resident feels his or her rights are violated in any manner, they are asked to contact the Resident Advocate here at STF. Residents may also contact Disability Rights Mississippi, Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities for further assistance in such matters. STF protects such rights and documents those entitlements in the Resident Handbook. They include:

1. The right to vote if you are the legal age.
2. The right to manage and throw away your property.
3. The right to contract.
4. The right to make purchases.
5. The right to have a job or a driver’s license if of legal age.
6. The right to make a will.
7. The right to access legal assistance and to the courts. The Facility will support and protect the
   fundamental human, civil, constitutional and statutory rights of each resident.
8. The right to prompt evaluation and treatment by trained professional staff.
9. The right to participate in treatment.
10. The right to privacy during consultation and treatment.
11. The right to maintenance of confidentiality of the medical record.
12. The right to an individualized treatment plan developed by a professional treatment team,
    which is periodically reviewed with the resident. The individualized treatment plan will include
    adequate and humane services regardless of the source of financial support and provision of
    services within the least restrictive environment as possible.
13. Routine access to the outdoors unless specifically restricted by physician’s orders, and the
    restriction must be reviewed by the physician every 3 days.
14. The right to be reviewed in the process of informed consent unless treatment is rendered as a
    result of a medical emergency or court order.
15. The right to private communication, including the right to send and receive unopened,
    uncensored mail in view of staff when clinically indicated; the right to conduct private
    telephone conversations unless clinically contraindicated; and, the right to receive visitor’s
    during normal visiting hours when the condition of the resident permits. If the therapeutic
    indications necessitate restrictions on the above said rights, those restrictions shall be
    evaluated for therapeutic effectiveness by the clinically responsible staff at least every 7
    days.
16. The right to freedom of worship.
17. The right to safe and sanitary housing and suitable clothing. If you feel your rights are violated, then call the Resident Advocate by asking for a Resident Request Form and put the completed form into the Resident Request box in your dorm.
18. The right to voice a grievance and recommend changes on policies without fear or reprisal.
19. The right to be free from experimental research without written and informed consent by the
    resident and/or correspondent.
20. The right to be free from restraint and seclusion unless clinically indicated.
21. The right to the possession and wearing of personal attire unless clinically contraindicated.
22. The right to a hearing before a Chancery Judge or Special Magistrate after 20 days of involuntary commitment.
23. The right to be called by a personally preferred legal name.
24. The right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation.
25. The right to be informed of the rights contained herein upon admission.
26. The right of impartial review of violations of rights assured herein, by a resident advocate.
27. The right to the appropriate access to care, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or disability.
28. The right to the appropriate assessment and management of pain.
29. The right to personal dignity.
30. The right to treatment, care and services that is considerate and respects the personal value
    and belief systems of individuals served.
31. The right to be informed of the organization’s rules and regulations concerning the conduct of
    the individuals served.
32. The right to participate in treatment, care and service planning including residents as
    appropriate to their age, maturity, and clinical condition, and the right of the family/legal
    guardian of individuals served to participate in such planning.
33. The right to an adequate number of competent, qualified, and experienced professional
    clinical staff to supervise and carry out the treatment or program plan.
34. The right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in the provision of care
    services and services including resolving conflicts, withholding resuscitative services or fore
    going or withholding life-sustaining treatment when such procedures are within the scope of
    the organization, and participating in investigational studies or clinical trials.
35. An emancipated minor has the right to designate a surrogate decision maker if the
    individual served is incapable of understanding a proposed treatment or procedure or is
    unable to communicate his/her wishes regarding care, treatment or services.
36. Each resident shall receive a written statement of resident rights, and a copy of this statement
    is to be posted in various areas of the Facility.
37. The resident has the right to refuse treatment, but if the resident refuses treatment, the
    responsibility of the Facility is to seek appropriate legal alternatives or orders of involuntary
    treatment, or, in accordance with professional standards, to terminate the relationship with the
    resident upon reasonable notice.