Isabel Home

Welcome to the Isabel Program! Upon placement, the youth receives an introduction to the program, including a tour and orientation to the space and an opportunity to ask questions. This experience is structured to be easy going and fun, acknowledging the challenges that often come along with transitions to a new space. This approach has been proven to ease tensions and support quicker adaptation to the home. Staff and management support the youth to transition them into the home, ensuring they understand the house rules as well as their rights. 

Within the first 30 days, our management team works closely with the youth to set personalized goals and develop a comprehensive Plan of Care (POC). The youth is actively involved in creating their POC, setting goals related to their education, behaviour, physical health, mental health, and other areas of interest or concern. We believe in a collaborative approach and encourage open communication throughout the process.

To support ongoing progress, we schedule regular Plan of Care review meetings to assess the youth's progress and how they are doing in the program. This allows us to highlight any areas of concern and make any necessary adjustments. Our goal is to provide tailored care that evolves to meet the needs of each youth in the program.

Each youth residing at the Isabel Program receives clinical behaviour support and behaviour plan oversight from our Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA). Depending on the behaviour of the youth, they may have an Antecedent Strategy Plan, which provides staff with proactive strategies to prevent behaviour from occurring. In cases of more serious behaviour, our RBA may implement a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP), which integrates both proactive and consequence strategies to reduce behaviour frequency and intensity.

Each plan is developed with the youth's history, past experiences, and unique needs in mind. Our RBA explains each aspect of the Behaviour Plan to the youth, ensuring their full understanding of each strategy implemented. All behaviour plans are structured to implement the least intrusive measures to reduce behaviour instances. The primary goal of our behaviour support is to reduce behaviour frequency and intensity while avoiding re-traumatization.

We strongly encourage and advocate for each youth to be involved in educational activities and skill building during their stay with Barrantes. 

Youth who attend school are supported with their education by staff through the following means: 

• Transportation to and from school (as needed) 
• Calendar organization for assignments and tests
• Homework and tutoring support for assignment completion and test preparation 

Youth who do not regularly attend school, or who are not presently enrolled, are supported with their education by staff through the following means: 

• Support to enroll in school programming (as needed) 
• Scheduled education time within the home
• Supplying and completing age- and grade-appropriate educational worksheets
• Providing information in novel ways to encourage learning 

Each youth has an allowance specific to community integration and recreational activities, thus encouraging and promoting community involvement and real-world application of the skills learned in-home. 

The activities that are available to the youth in the Isabel Program vary based on individual interest. Our staff routinely explore community activities that align with the interests of each of our clients. Monthly group outings take place to foster community and collaboration within the home.

The health and well being of the youth in our homes is of utmost importance. All clients have unrestricted access to medical, dental and vision care with our partnered, local care providers. All routine health assessments are scheduled promptly, with any pertinent findings being communicated and addressed in a timely manner. Medication administration is keenly monitored, with quick attention being brought to any adverse effects or errors. 

At the Isabel Program, life skill development and therapeutic engagement are woven into every activity and interaction. We believe in naturalistic learning, therefore implement daily routines and structured activities that promote skill building and emotional regulation in applicable settings. Youth are supported to develop effective coping skills and are supported to learn to live in a group environment in a healthy manner. 

Our dedicated team uses a therapeutic approach to guide and support clients, helping them develop confidence, resilience, and the life skills needed to thrive both within the program and beyond. 

All staff members possess at least a college diploma or university degree in relevant social service fields. They hold a valid Police Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) and/or Police Broad Record Check (BRC) as well as WSIB-approved First Aid/CPR Training. 

All staff undergo continuous training, including, but not limited to:

• Medication administration
• Abuse prevention
• Safe food handling
• Crisis intervention (Safe Management Group training)
• Cultural diversity
• Diagnosis-specific 

All Barrantes staffing is QSF-Compliant.