CAREGIVING SYSTEM
RESIDENTIAL CAREGIVERS
Establishing a strong relational attachment is the first step in guiding our students toward the development of self-regulation in their brain and body. Nowhere is this bond more crucial than with their daily caregivers within the residential setting. Students are surrounded by a dedicated team of coaches who quickly become an extended family, providing guidance and support as they work to enhance their regulation skills.
The dorm-style residences provide the backdrop for a daily routine that seamlessly blends productive activities with moments of enjoyment. Elevate students are well aware that each day presents an opportunity to accumulate points in Engagement, Civility, and Safety, all of which contribute to exciting weekend activities. This system not only incentivizes short-term rewards but also fosters a sense of personal accountability for the outcomes of each day.
In this tangible way, students come to understand the profound influence they have over the course of every single day, empowering them to make positive choices and exercise their personal power.
CLINICAL CAREGIVERS
CLINICAL CAREGIVERS
Students in Elevate Academy have grappled with overwhelming challenges of many varieties. Whether it’s attachment struggles, mood disorder or anxiety, substance use or opposition and defiance, they have been struggling to find their place in the world. This sense of overwhelm experienced by your child can be understood as a form of complex trauma.
CLINICAL CAREGIVERS
Therefore in Elevate, we approach your student’s complex trauma with a strong focus on attachment, self-regulation, and ultimately, competency. Our approach is guided by the principles outlined in "Treating Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents: How to Foster Resilience through Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency" by Blaustein, M. E., & Kinniburgh, K. M. (2010).
At Elevate, each student is paired with a primary therapist who also serves as your family therapist and treatment leader. This experienced clinician possesses in-depth knowledge of your child, your family dynamics, and assumes the role of guiding the entire caregiving team. Beyond therapy, it is their responsibility to offer valuable insights into your child's behavior to coaches and teachers, facilitating the creative implementation of personalized growth plans within the team.
CREATIVE THERAPY
Conventional talk therapy may not be the right fit for every student. That's why at Elevate, we leverage the splendid surroundings of the Heritage Community campus where we are situated. Adventure therapy, equestrian-assisted therapy, performing arts therapy, and more provide diverse and engaging alternatives for our students.
MEDICATION CAREGIVERS
Jamis first started working at Heritage in 2000 as a direct caregiver. He loves working with youth and he worked at Heritage for 8 years in a variety of direct caregiving roles before going back to school full time to become a registered nurse. After licensing he returned to Heritage for a few years as an RN and eventually returned to school again to earn his Doctor of Nursing Practice, specializing as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Dr. Leeper spent some time working in New England in both community and hospital settings. He collaboratively established a direct and consultative psychiatric-care program for children and adolescents in a rural healthcare setting. Eventually Dr. Leeper heard the call of Heritage again and returned as our Medical Director in 2019.
Our unique and effective relationship model is a key driving force that kept bringing Jamis back to Heritage. He enjoys working with students and their families, developing relationships, and using those relationships to inspire and prepare individuals to heal and thrive. He oversees our nursing and psychiatry departments. He believes in a holistic approach focusing on skills development so that our students can keep succeeding beyond their years at Heritage. He sees medication as a tool that can be used to support the development of these important skills.
Aside from enjoying working with youth at Heritage, he enjoys spending time with his own group of youth at home. He and his wife have four very active daughters. Together they all enjoy playing sports, hiking, swimming and playing games.