Cottage Life in the Stepping Stones Program

Staff serve as positive role models for children and are actively involved in participating with youth in activities and meals. Staff offer residents nurturance, structure, support, respect, consistent limit setting, and guided practice to learn effective communication, positive social interaction, and problem solving skills.

The Stepping Stones program has a predictable structure, rules, and routine.  Staff post a daily schedule so that residents can see what the plan is for each day.  Meals are family style and efforts are made to engage youth in pleasant conversation. A weekly recreation calendar is posted so residents can anticipate events.  Transitions from one activity to another are handled in an orderly way.   There are established routines on weekdays and weekends concerning: meals, chores, showers, recreation, bedtimes, etc.

Staff make every effort to assist residents in having a clean and well-organized environment.  Each resident is allowed to have personal items in his room such as posters, photos, toys/games/books, a stereo.  Residents can decorate and personalize their bedrooms.  Staff encourage residents to only have an amount of items that they can keep in good order.  Items that depict violence, sexual content, negative behavior, or disrespect are not allowed.  Items that seem unsafe or are used in an unsafe manner are removed and returned to the resident’s guardian or returned to the resident when he is better able to manage himself safely.  Residents will be provided with personal care items and bedding.  Residents can bring their own clothes but if they need additional clothing or shoes, it will be provided.

There are three main components of the Stepping Stones behavior management system.  They are: Safety, Respect and being On-Task.  Safety includes behaving in a way that ensures safety for yourself, your peers, staff and other adults, property, and the community.  Respect refers to demonstrating care and good manners toward yourself, your peers, staff and other adults, property and the community.  Another way to understand Respect is to think about the Golden rule – paraphrased, it means to treat others as you would want to be treated.  Being On-Task is about following directions and participating fully in school and all program activities and expectations.  Throughout each day, youth will be evaluated on their efforts and ability to remain Safe, Respectful and On-Task.  Youth earn privileges or consequences based on their achievement in these areas.

In Stepping Stones there are 12 major house rules.  Following the house rules will indicate that a youth is staying Safe, Respectful and On-Task.  The major house rules are:

1. All residents are expected to remain in staff supervision at all times.
2. All residents will be respectful to staff and peers.
3. No aggression or threats of aggression toward self, others or property.
4. No sexual contact or dating relationships among residents in any of the campus-based programs at the Tennyson Center.
5. No drugs/alcohol/cigarettes in your possession or in your body.
6. No gang related activities (signs, talk, clothing).
7. No weapons or items that could bring harm to self or others.
8. Respect the belongings of others – no borrowing, lending, trading, buying, giving or stealing. 
9. Respect Stepping Stones property and share its care by participating in           regular daily chores.
10.  Attend and participate in school and all scheduled activities.
11.  Residents are not allowed in each other’s rooms.
12.  Personal items should not be left in common areas.

There are daily opportunities for free time, study time and recreation. 

Youth need to demonstrate responsible behavior before attending off-campus recreation activities.  This is based on concern that if the youth is unstable, he may struggle while in the community and endanger himself or others.  Before taking youth off-campus, staff will talk with them about what they can expect at the activity and what behavior is expected from them.  Examples of community-based recreation include, but are not limited to, movie theaters, arcades, museums, hiking, community festivals, swimming at area pools, libraries, shopping, college and professional sports events.

The safety of all residents, staff and the Denver community in which we reside are of the utmost importance.  All residents will check in with staff when entering the building from any outing where they are out of staff’s supervision.  A residents belongings will be checked as well as shoes, socks, pockets, and waistbands.  Room searches will be conducted by staff when believed necessary.