Mutual Support’s treatment model is based on currently accepted practices in the field. Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (The Residential Child Care project, Family Life Development Centre, College of Human Ecology Cornell University) forms the basis of all staff interventions with residents, from the least to most intrusive. http://rccp.cornell.edu/tcimainpage.html

Collaborative Problem Solving is utilized by staff to engage children and youth positively to participate in their own good outcomes and challenges staff to rethink outdated ideas of behaviour and consequence as the sole means to motivate children to behave appropriately. http://www.thinkkids.org/    http://www.livesinthebalance.org/

Clinical support is provided by Tom Venema, MSW, through Lidkea, Stob and Venema & Associates in St. Catharines, ON.  http://www.familycounselling.com/

Mutual Support has contracted with local occupational therapy services to train and develop staff to provide sensory behavioral ‘diets’ for children with sensory processing disorders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_processing_disorder

Mutual Support is a long-standing member of O.A.R.T.Y., a provincial association dedicated to being a Centre Of Excellence for residential care in Ontario. Partners in Care research projects continue to identify the needs of our children through non-identifying assessment tools that MS forwards to the Partners In Care clinicians. http://www.oarty.net/  http://www.oarty.net/publications_and_information/research/oarty_projects~reports.htm

Through OARTY, MS has access to the ‘Safeguards’ training that is offered through the Ministry of Children and Youth. http://safeguards-training.net/

MS staff have participated in Brain Gym Certification training programs and are committed to assisting children through the use of this program. From their website: Brain Gym® International is committed to the principle that moving with intention leads to optimal learning. Through our outstanding instructors and movement-based programs, we empower all ages to reclaim the joy of living. http://www.braingym.org/