Our House is a highly supervised and structured learning environment in a residential program which operates 24 hours per day year round. It serves at-risk adolescent males ages 16-21 who are in need of specialized help and a new start. They are referred to us from social and juvenile justice agencies, as well as foster care. Our House is unique in three ways: It teaches building trades 8 hours per day; It has academic classes in the evenings; It has weekly community service so that the students learn to "give back" to society. Our House students participate in a rigorous 40 hour per week training program in construction and renovation. This training is total "hands-on" experience in carpentry, drywall, electricity and plumbing as they actually renovate homes and buildings. Two hours of each weekday evening are set aside for sessions that will prepare them for living independently as adults. Three nights per week they attend academic classes emphasizing mathematics and verbal skills to prepare for the GED exam. A fourth weekday evening is devoted to a Life Skills class that provides training in areas such as hygiene, health, sex education, substance abuse prevention, nutritional meal planning, food preparation, budgeting, and first aid. On the fifth evening the students meet for group therapy which is facilitated by our licensed clinical director. During these therapy sessions the students discuss behavioral issues such as self-discipline, delayed gratification, anger control, conflict resolution, leadership techniques, and team spirit. Each student also participates in weekly individual therapy sessions. Finally, the program is rounded out by our weekend service and social activities which include community service projects (every week), athletics, recreation, and the opportunity to attend religious services and artistic, cultural and sporting events. The students also attend weekly A.A. and/or N.A. meetings. Upon completion of the program, Our House provides aftercare services including job placement and independent living arrangements. Copyright © 2006 Our House. All rights reserved.