The mission of Specialized Treatment Facility is to promote and strengthen the mental health and the education of males and females who are experiencing behavioral difficulties in their homes, schools, and communities. Specialized Treatment Facility will enhance the Department of Mental Health mission to a better tomorrow by making a difference in the lives of Mississippi adolescents with mental illness and substance abuse one person at a time.
Core Values
Employees are charged with the responsibility of promoting and strengthening the mental health of adolescents by exhibiting the core values that are at the heart of this mission:
- Commitment to quality service
- Effective communication
- Respect for others
- Self-acceptance
- Great expectations of self and others
- Perseverance
What We Do
Specialized Treatment Facility employs Milieu Therapy as the foundation for the treatment of its residents. Milieu Therapy is a planned treatment environment in which everyday events and interactions are therapeutically designed for the purpose of enhancing social skills and building confidence. This therapy uses common structures familiar to all children, such as daily routines, consistent rules and activities.
Psychotherapy is conducted by evidenced-based or best-practice models. STF currently uses:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS)
- Alcohol and Drug Treatment/Prevention - The Matrix Model for Teens
Residents participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions, recreational activities (physical education and arts and crafts) and attend classes at the facility’s on-site school. Residents are also expected to work on developing positive life skills such as maintaining a clean living environment. The Facility strives to maintain a safe and positive living environment in which residents can grow and learn.
How We Do It
The Facility, staff, programs, services, and atmosphere all come together to provide an environment that supports residents' physical and mental needs:
- School with curriculum centered on the academic needs of each individual student that may include a high school diploma, MOD (Mississippi Occupational Diploma), Life Skills Diploma or the GED program
- Gym and recreation center
- Individual, group, and family therapy sessions
- Trained dietary staff to ensure healthy meal plans
- Life skills development
- Private visitation rooms
- State-of-the-art residential buildings
- On-site maintenance
- Certified and licensed staff