Wediko provides a multi-modality,
comprehensively structured therapeutic summer program for
children at high psychological risk.
For this program to achieve its maximum power, each child must be effectively integrated into a protected, psychologically safe living group, and secured in facilitating relationships with staff. Simultaneously the child must come to gradually respond to the feedback and incentive systems that increasingly channel functioning into purposive, pro-social, achievement oriented directions. Saturated nurturance, constant availability of staff (guaranteed by a 2:1 child:staff ratio) stimulate affiliation and conversation while assuring symptom containment. Small positive gains gradually becomes interwoven with daily group work emphasizing problem-solving, conflict management and goal setting. these experiences directly encourage the child's increasing participation in the therapeutic activity program which highlights the child's strengths, builds skills and increases adaptive capability. Wediko's motto "Development through Individual, Social and Academic Mastery" is implemented continuously as children are exposed to therapeutic activities that are so compelling, so attractive, so inherently motivating that even the most resistant or avoidant child finds it difficult to remain uninvolved. Here failure experiences are controlled with success being impossible to avoid. Wediko is designed as a place of the endless second chance, where trying and effort are recognized and validated as much as success itself.
This perspective is also imbued in Wediko's Summer School which is seamlessly integrated into the child's daily schedule. Here children enhance their science knowledge base while curtailing the tendency for academic regression. From Wediko's perspective, success at school bolsters experiential learning success which, in turn, reinforces academic progress.
To assure these mutually strengthening learning cycles, maladaptive adjustment patterns are assessed and recommendations made regarding specific interventions including medication review. If medication is indicated, Wediko's medical staff will prescribe and then follow the effects of the medication trial.
The Summer Program is an immersion experience where children encounter wave after repetitious wave of therapeutic input while having fun. The seemingly endless exposure to new learning opportunities helps shift personal identity from being problem centered to being skill based and that of a learner.
For some children Wediko will be a life-turning experience. For others, the Summer Program will help restore their emotional equilibrium, help shore up their confidence and help strengthen their personal sense of competency and social connection. Characteristically, children leave the Summer Program with an increased capability to regulate their own functioning. With their new repertoire of adaptive tools, they are typically able to cope more effectively with age-appropriate expectations if essential family and school supports are in place.