Captain's Academy advocates for the needs of all children in society and their need for proper care. We believe youth need a continuum of care offered to them. We have a unique opportunity to provide services to youth in need of multiple aspects of treatment. We provide adult guidance and professional services to youth placed out of the home while maintaining community living in our non-secure program. Our facility is community based and our program is community oriented. We have tremendous flexibility in providing care to youth with varying needs. The Captain's Academy Non-Secure Program works cooperatively with the youth, their family, the placing agency and other professionals working with the child and their family to develop an individual treatment plan, discharge plan, and aftercare plan based on the placement treatment goals.

Captain's Academy provides independent living skills and transitional services to support youth needing help with the transition from placement back into the community. Youth will be given the tools necessary to successfully live on their own. Youth learn how to set and accomplish individual goals, how to manage their time, how to manage stress, and more. They will have the opportunity to earn incentives by meeting program expectations and making progress on their individual case plan goals. Case management service will be provided to each youth. 

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Captain's Academy staff are committed to helping children and their families grow and strengthen their skills. Ongoing continuing education required by licensing, by the individual needs of youth and the individual needs of the staff is provided. The Captain's Academy team develop individual treatment plans according to each individual youth strengths, needs, and diagnosis. Captain's Academy contracts with the licensed mental health providers to assist in therapeutic program planning, as well as daily care and treatment issues.

Captain's Academy is a 6 bedroom welcoming home, in a quiet neighborhood located in west central Minnesota, in the city of Willmar. This setting puts youth at ease and allows them to remain living in a community setting while they work towards their goals. Maximum capacity is 12 male youth. 

Captain's Academy is licensed by the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections and will accept males ages 10-19. 

Admission to Captain's Academy may be initiated by placing a referral. Your involvement on youth treatment goals will be included. Once initial screening is completed through the referral form, further background information such as psychological evaluation, family history and reports from previous interventions will be requested. A pre-placement interview may be scheduled, but is not always required. Referrals may be initiated by the child’s Social Worker or Probation Officer. The placing county is responsible for payment. Captain's Academy does not bill the youth’s insurance for placement. Captain's Academy provides an alternative to secure placements for youth. 

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Upon admission to Captain's Academy, areas of difficulty leading to placement are discussed and an individual treatment plan is developed. After thirty days, a staffing is held to discuss the youth’s transition into our program and school, as well as the youth’s progress, areas of difficulty, and issues the youth has identified as those they want to work on. The youth’s treatment goals are:  

1. Evaluated weekly by staff

2. Reviewed regularly throughout placement at staffing’s which include all involved parties

3. Documented thoroughly in written reports

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Captain's Academy is designed to provide a strength based nurturing environment for youth. We empower youth to identify and evaluate behaviors and issues causing problems in their lives, educate and teach them skills, and provide an environment where issues can be worked through assertively within the program or by utilizing existing community resources. We promote and assist communication and problem solving with families. Youth-led staffing’s allow the youth to demonstrate new skills learned, as well as to take ownership for areas of difficulty. Captain's Academy believes strongly in helping the entire family system strengthen and grow throughout their child’s placement, to better ensure success upon reunification.

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• Home like environment within the community
• Twenty-four-hour supervision, guidance and care
• Truthought Cognitive Skills Program
• Individual Case Planning
• Case Coordination of all services provided within the program and within the community 
• Daily Groups
• Individual Counseling 
• Family Collaboration
• Regular staffing’s and written reports to communicate progress and areas of concern
• Recreational Activities  
• Transitional Planning 
• On and Off Grounds Visitation for approved visitors
• Willmar Public Schools provides education at the Lake Park School
• Credit recovery
• Third party service providers for medical, substance abuse disorder treatment and therapeutic services
• Residents are able to maintain current provider through telehealth 
• Medication Administration
• Spirituality Services
• Opportunities to complete community services hours

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We closely coordinate all of our program services with those provided by our third-party service providers.

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Transition plans are designed for individual youth needs and coordinated with the referring agents and families prior to discharge. Transition plans may include information from the team member who has worked the closest with the youth and their team throughout placement. Transition planning may include phone calls, coordinating medical appointments upon discharge, coordinating with the professional team or providing resources within the community.