A BEACON OF HOPE

For a child who may be having trouble succeeding in school or in a community, Beacon School, housed in the Cunningham Center, offers an opportunity to gain knowledge, interpersonal skills, and a personal worth that will allow him or her to discover new, positive ways to relate to the world.

A ministry of Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Beacon School and the Quillen Day Treatment Program guide students toward social, behavioral, academic, and emotional well-being. Staff members work with students and with family and friends on individual programs of instruction that guide young people into new directions.

Who Are The Students?

We are licensed to teach students from kindergarten to seniors in high school by the State of Tennessee. Students at Beacon School

- Are boys and girls ages 5-18, grades K-12

- Have a certifiable educational handicapping condition that requires a highly-structured educational program

- May have a behavioral problem requiring daily treatment and socialization activities

- May be referred by area school systems, parents, or qualified mental health professionals

- Have a need for individualized and highly specialized attention available at a special education school

How Do We Help Them?

Students at Beacon School are prepared to succeed in their community settings by an intensive educational experience that begins with a rigorous assessment of their needs. Each student progresses through one-on-one and small-group opportunities in the classroom, in counseling, in spiritual guidance and in recreational activities. Our ultimate goal is to enable every child to return successfully to public schools or less-intensive day programs. To accomplish this goal we

- Administer a complete battery of educational and intelligence tests to determine students' abilities

- Complete assessments of vocational aptitude and interests and of independent living skills for students older than 14

- Gather basic medical history information and any history of prior mental health and alcohol & drug treatment, being careful to guard that information in keeping with all privacy laws

- Thoroughly document each student's progress

- Design individual education and treatment plans based on complete records of students' behavior and progress

- Involve referring parties, the student, the student's parents/guardians, and program staff, in the educational process

- Provide important one-on-one time as well as opportunities to develop social skills in small groups

- Respond to and re-train self-defeating, anti-social, disruptive, or aggressive behaviors

- Guide students toward positive actions

- Provide daily behavior reports to parents or guardians

How Can We Help?

Staff members at Beacon School are dedicated professionals who help children grow and learn in a positive, non-judgmental way. More than that, they are individuals who have a genuine love for children and a commitment to help their students succeed. The school is small. The community is caring. The approach is person-to-person.

- Each class is staffed with a certified special education teacher and at least one teacher's aide for an average 5:1 teacher-student ratio.

- Staff includes a full-time program director, a program supervisor, a behavior management specialist and a physical education teacher.

- Additional clinical support services include a consulting psychiatrist, a registered nurse and a licensed therapist.

- Carefully screened volunteers serve as reading pals, library and office helpers, and special friends to selected students.

Credentials

- Approved by the Tennessee Department of Education to provide services to children with educational handicaps

- Licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health as a day treatment facility.

- Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services (a national accrediting body)

Holston United Methodist Home for Children does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or handicapping conditions in the provision of its services and in its hiring practices