Admission to Stetson School for a comprehensive assessment of psychological, educational, social, and sexual risk issues is available.  Offered as a stand-alone, on-site service for males ages 9-21, the 90-Day Assessment is a valuable source of detailed information used to guide treatment decisions. This modality is especially helpful when students have complex needs, when prior treatment interventions have not been successful, or when there is uncertainty about the extent and severity of the student's sexual behavior problems. Placement for the 90-Day Assessment is an ideal option when community safety and family concerns need to be addressed immediately and concurrently with the start of treatment for a student who struggles with sexual behavior problems. The results of the evaluation may be either confirmation of a full admission to Stetson School or a conditional acceptance to one of Stetson's treatment tracks. In some instances, the result may be a detailed recommendation for the student's placement in a level of care or treatment setting other than Stetson School. This decision is accompanied by planning assistance from the Stetson School treatment team in order to access the most appropriate disposition on behalf of the student.

 In all cases, the 90-day evaluation yields an extensive body of information about the student, based on the specialized expertise of the Stetson School clinical, educational, and residential treatment team members.  A cohesive interpretation of the information is provided in a written report.  Contained in the report is the Juvenile Risk Assessment Tool (J-RAT). The J-RAT, developed at Stetson School, is a specialized measure of key factors which contribute to juvenile sexual behavior problems.  Completed by the assessment clinician, it offers a careful review of the student's unique history of sexually abusive behavior along with the personal and environmental factors that influenced the sexually abusive behavior(s).  While there is no certain way to determine whether a re-offense will occur, the J-RAT contributes deeper understanding of the likelihood of re-offense based on the information collected and adds an important dimension to the assessment. For students who remain at Stetson School to complete treatment, the J-RAT (or a specialized version of the risk assessment tool) will be completed and presented at each treatment milestone to measure the student's progress towards discharge. The evaluation period concludes with an on-site case conference involving the student, his parents/guardians, the referring agency, and the treatment team.  With all participants at the table, the assessment results are presented in a facilitated discussion format with an opportunity for questions, group decision-making, and planning of the next steps in the student's care and treatment.

Adolescent students who participate in the 90-day assessment live on the 12-bed Palson Intake Unit, along with other students who are newly admitted to the program.  Latency age students are directly admitted to a 6-bed Cutting Lodge Latency Unit, devoted exclusively to the youngest members of Stetson's student population.  During his assessment the student is assigned to a full-time Case Manager and a Clinician who manage all aspects of his care. The Case Manager helps the family by communicating with them about the student's progress and providing information about the Stetson

School program offerings, daily routines, family visits, and student health needs. Stetson School's licensed clinical staff complete a rigorous training program specific to treatment of sexually abusive behavior. Over several assessment sessions, the Clinician gains the youth's perspective on his sexual development and the specific circumstances surrounding the sexual behavior problems. Expanding the assessment perspective beyond direct observation, the Clinician also interviews parents, guardians, and prior treatment providers. Screening tools and tests may be administered by the Clinician to gather data about the student's mood, cognitive ability, sexual interests, self-concept, and conduct.  If necessary, the treatment team may request specialized testing such as a polygraph examination, neuropsychological evaluation, or a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), to thoroughly complete the evaluation.

Throughout the assessment phase, specially trained residential child care workers welcome the student, and serve as supportive guides as he adjusts to his new surroundings on the Intake or Latency Residential Unit.  Stetson School's child care staff contributes substantial information to the assessment pertinent to the student's interpersonal style, learning style, his ability to self-regulate his emotions and to solve day-to-day problems. A full range of academic services are provided to each student in the Assessment Classroom of the Robinson Education Center where the  focus is on engaging the student and avoiding disruption of his learning process as much as possible. The Assessment Classroom has 10 students and is staffed by a special education teacher and two instructional aides.  School staff administers academic testing, and observes the student in class to develop an academic plan and to insure delivery of all Individual Education Plan services. The availability of "round-the-clock" observation by specially trained milieu and classroom staff in a residential setting, and integration of this information with the Clinician's work, sets the Stetson School 90-Day Assessment Program apart from a conventional office-based evaluation.

The referral process may be initiated by phone, fax, or mail.  An Admission Coordinator will contact referring agents within 48 hours to set up an interview at a convenient location of your choice. Tours of the Stetson School campus are available upon request. A determination of eligibility for admission is generally made at the conclusion of the interview, with an admission date coordinated as soon as the pre-admission materials are completed. Stetson School provides transportation for the student on admission day, if necessary.