Residence Center
Nyack, New York
The Summit Children’s Residence Center in Nyack, NY, has built a reputation as one of the finest residential schools for adolescents with learning, emotional, or behavioral difficulties.
The center provides a 24-hour-a-day comprehensive program that encompasses counseling, high school special education, recreation, and social support. With a focus on success in all realms of treatment, the faculty and staff members foster the intellectual, social, and emotional development of all our students.
We are committed to providing an enriching, supportive, therapeutic, comfortable, and fun program which allows each student to become an integral member of a thriving community. Through group living, students learn to take personal care of themselves and their possessions, compromise and negotiate with others, as well as develop leadership skills.
Summit’s residential program is most effective when students are active participants in their own social and emotional development. We recognize that although all residential students are voluntarily placed at Summit, the transition to living away from home can be a trying experience for some. We make every effort to provide a feeling of comfort and warmth for residential services.
Keeping with our goal of providing a real world experience, Summit students are allowed personal electronics and other comforts of home, when appropriate.
The residence program is staffed by a group of dedicated, patient, and experienced counselors, most of whom who have made career long commitments to the Summit community. Focusing on teaching skills, reinforcing expectations, and actively acknowledging positive behaviors, the staff helps guide students towards good decisions in the present, and the creation of a healthy and adaptable approach to life.
Happiness is not one size fits all
Summit staff member, Francheska Fernandez, shares her thoughts about how happiness is not one size fits all; at Summit, students are encouraged to discover what happiness means to them. “…That is the big picture of Summit,” she explains. “It’s a safe space where you can be you.”
The bonds developed during residential living often extend far beyond the student’s time at Summit into lasting friendships.
Success comes from helping students repair relationships with their families and transition back to their communities.
Anthony Geathers
Assistant Director of Residential Programming
Home Visits
Social workers maintain contact and provide support to family members to establish effective home rules and predictable responses to problematic circumstances. Parents are empowered to make the decision for home visitation, thus demonstrating to their children that they are ready and capable of making decisions that are in their child’s best interest. Confidence for both the students and families builds up through repeated home visits, ultimately setting the stage for a successful transition back to home when the time comes for graduation or a return to the local school district.
At times, home visits are not practical or appropriate for Summit students. Students may hold local jobs, have far to travel, or not yet be in the position to experience success while at home. Students remaining at Summit on weekends or school breaks enjoy the ability to interact with a smaller group of students. A modified recreational schedule is maintained throughout these time periods, as well as additional free time on campus that is typically enjoyed in adolescence.
Working At A Residential School
WATCH VIDEOGiselle Salvador is a Senior Child Care Worker at Summit. She has been working here for nearly 10 years and loves her job. As a Senior Child Care Worker, Giselle is responsible for tasks such as cottage organization, delegating tasks, creating new activities, conducting and leading community meetings, and communicating pertinent information to staff and supervisors.
Child Care Workers play a vital role in creating a supportive and nurturing environment for the students. They work closely with the students, providing guidance and support in managing their lives outside of academics. This includes helping students take care of themselves and teaching them how to compromise and negotiate with others. Child Care Workers aim to create an environment where students can develop the skills and tools to be independent, successful, and fulfilled individuals.
In this video, Giselle speaks about how the campus provides a home away from home for the students. She describes how she and her co-workers help take the load off from the school day and manage the students’ lives after school, on campus. This is particularly beneficial for students who don’t have ideal situations at home.
