Onarga Academy/Iroquois County Special Education District
Interns matching with the Onarga Academy/Iroquois Mental Health Center/Iroquois Special Education Association are exposed to an enormous range of clients and services. The intern spends two days per week at ISEA, two days at Onarga Academy, and one day at IMHC. IMHC is primarily individual out-patient therapy with some opportunities for initial mental health assessments and group work. Iroquois Special Education is more the traditional school setting, but being rural has opportunity for all ages in multiple schools. The intern has been a part of the Autism team for the co-op and been instrumental in behavior studies of children exhibiting difficult behaviors in the classroom. At Onarga Academy, the intern is involved in assessment and providing therapy to adolescent males with problematic sexual behaviors.
Onarga Academy
Located just off I-57 in Onarga, Illinois, Onarga Academy is 35 miles south of Kankakee and 45 miles north of Champaign, Illinois. One of several Nexus residential treatment facilities in the Midwest, it is a community-based residential treatment facility that provides a family-oriented, caring, therapeutic approach to treating boys ages eleven to twenty requiring treatment for psychiatric, psychological, behavioral, and sexually problematic behaviors. These youth come from a variety of backgrounds, often with severe victimization histories including physical, sexual abuse and/or neglect. They are in need of a structured and nurturing environment with intensive counseling services. Onarga Academy has five residential programs and two Transitional Living programs to meet the needs of our population. The Onarga Academy goal is to help these boys to develop healthy, disciplined lives so they can return home or enter foster care or a group home. Our ultimate goal is to assist them to safely re-enter the community.
At the heart of our philosophy exists the “cornerstone values” of treatment. These cornerstones represent the foundational elements of change within the therapeutic environment. It is the Academy’s conviction that when the cornerstone elements of honesty, responsibility, growth, courage, care and concern are working together, the likelihood of meaningful change and growth is greatly enhanced. We strongly support the belief that all individuals possess the potential for growth and change.
Onarga Academy utilizes a blend of cognitive-behavioral, developmental, family, psychological, psychiatric, and sexuality treatment interventions. We do this through an integrated approach to treatment in healing, education, and resolving issues surrounding each youth’s problematic behavior. Interns have the opportunity to be involved in psychological evaluations that utilize a full battery of instruments (including intellectual assessment, achievement testing, personality inventories, depression inventories, projective drawings and thematic apperception tests) clinical interview, and extensive history. Opportunities for experiences in play therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are available. There are several prominent workshop and seminar speakers giving training at OA each year.
Iroquois Special Education Association
The Iroquois Special Education Association (ISEA) is a co-op serving a large rural area in Iroquois County which includes six school districts. The intern will be involved with initial and re-evaluations for special education eligibility. There are also opportunities for participation on various specialized teams and committees. In addition, the intern is provided the opportunity to participate in various case studies that may involve a specific interest area or particularly complicated matters. Since the co-op serves several districts the intern will have the ability to serve all age groups,
including early childhood through high school. The central office is located in Gilman and the intern is provided office space, a computer, an office phone, and access to various testing materials. The central office also houses the student records. Supervision is provided by a certified school psychologist who is readily accessible. ISEA revolves around a central team of professionals including school psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists,
and school social workers. Collaboration and team studies are emphasized and provide the intern a wide variety of experiences.
Iroquois Mental Health Center
Iroquois Mental Health Center (IMHC) is located in Watseka, IL, 90 miles south of Chicago in Iroquois County. Iroquois County is the third largest county in the State of Illinois with 1,116.43 square miles of land area. It is primarily rural with an estimated 2006 population of 30,598. Those not living in the rural areas are located in the approximately seventeen small towns in the County. Iroquois Mental health Center provides mental health and addiction treatment services to over 1,000 adults, children and adolescents annually. The service area includes five counties in east central Illinois and four in west central Indiana.
Under the direction of Dr. Dennis P. Hopkins, named Executive Director in January 2005, IMHC has a diverse staff of thirty-seven. IMHC currently contracts with three psychiatrists that provide psychiatric services and medication management. One full time and two part time nurses assist the psychiatrists. Professional staff includes ten outpatient mental health therapists; three substance abuse counselors; three psycho-social rehabilitation facilitators; and one outpatient therapy intern.
IMHC moved into its current facility three years ago. The facility is completely refurbished warehouse donated to the Agency by a local family. The 25,000 square foot building is beautifully decorated with in a culturally diverse style. Ample room is available for expansion.
IMHC aggressively seeks grant monies to provide training, program support and staff to meet the demands of the service area. The Agency is in the process of establishing a Foundation that will attract donations to further provide supplemental revenue.
Interns at IMHC are viewed as a valuable asset. It is felt that interns can extend their knowledge base through experience and supervision. The Agency also benefits in their work. Interns are placed according to their interests and needs. They can be involved with assessment, individual and family therapy, groups and staffing. Interacting and networking with colleagues in and out of the Agency is promoted as well. Stipends are available to interns.
List of Programs and Services:
Outpatient Clinical Services:
Individual Therapy
Group Therapy
Family Therapy
Stress/ Anger Management Group
Depression Group
Parenting Education
Outreach to schools for individual Treatment for Students
Mental health educational and support services for schools and other services for schools and other service providers
Crisis Services
Family Stabilization Services:
Assisting with family communication & relationships
Mentoring and advocacy for children & teens
Modeling parenting skills
Psychiatric Services:
Consulting psychiatric services
Medication management
Medication monitoring and/or training
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services:
Individual & group counseling for teens & adults
Counseling for substance abuse & codependence
DUI remedial education
Substance abuse education/referral
Outreach education