Plumfield Academy offers Special Education services special education private schools

To understand our kids with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) it is more than helpful to know something about the brain. The more you learn about the brain, the more you will understand your RAD child's behavior. Here is a brief introduction to the subject.

Plumfield Academy offers Special Education services special education private schools Non-Public School provides students with unique needs. Plumfield Academy's a highly structured environment where each child's educational and behavioral needs, Special education children visit at: http://www. Plumfieldacademy.net

According to Bruce Perry, MD, child psychiatrist and neuroscientist working with challenging children and their families, 90% of the brain's development occurs in the first three years of life. Critical to the healthy progression of the brain is the nurturing given to an infant and young toddler. Hundreds, innumerable numbers of times a baby cries from starvation and nurturing mom reacts hundreds, thousands of times and feeds her child, healthy progression of the brain occurs. Hundreds, thousands of times a baby cries with soiled diapers and every time those diapers are promptly changed, healthy development of the brain comes about. Whenever a baby or your toddler calls out for play and a loving person plays with that child, healthy advancement of the brain occurs. And every time those events occur, cuddling and hugging and other close physical and emotional contact takes place, all promoting healthy development of the brain.
The effects of negligence and abuse are overwhelming. When those needs consistently are not met, when mom, dad, or other care taker chronically does not provide care when her baby cries out, healthy development of the brain cannot occur. The baby whose needs are not met will rage and tantrum until becoming quiet all alone. The long term result is that the baby learns completely inappropriate self-regulation which has many implications, not the least of which is to not trust any caretaker and to attempt at all costs to be in complete control of any situation. Obviously that is not a description of a healthy child. What we see are children who are chronically tense, anxious and hyper-vigilant, sometimes described as the fight or flight response. This is devastating to the future of the child.

This is all about the brain. The fight or flight center of the brain is the most primitive part of the brain, the brain stem, the amygdala, also known as the reptilian brain. Consider the ever present alertness of the reptile who is always ready to run or fight (bite). When healthy brain development fails to take place, the ever meticulous child is literally stuck in the brain stem.
When proper balanced caring has occurred, the baby experiences love and caring which is experienced in the limbic system of the brain. The baby "learns" that adults can be trusted and that their environment is safe. They learn that they do not have to be in control.
The child with RAD does not willfully doubtfulness adults, particularly caretakers. It is not choice. The raging of the RAD child is not intentional and planned (most of the time). It is the result of stimulus and response - the stimulus of something occurring on the outside causing a response in the brain.
It is not all bad news. The brain can be healed, the associations can be repaired. It can be a long and arduous process requiring awesome dedicated parents who can assemble a powerful support team. And understanding the role of the brain can be critical to help us figure out what will work best to help our children. What is it like for you when your RAD child is raging? How do you respond and what do you do? Please send me an email and share your experiences with your raging child.

Plumfield Academy offers Special Education services special education private schools Non-Public School provides students with unique needs. Plumfield Academy's a highly structured environment where each child's educational and behavioral needs, Special education children visit at: http://www. Plumfieldacademy.net

Program Profile - ADMISSIONS - plumfieldacademy.net

Plumfield Academy accepts boys between the ages of 6 and 14 who have emotional and behavioral challenges which may disrupt their functioning at home, at school and with their peers. Problematic behavior patterns may include: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, depression, defiance, opposition, aggression and emotional volatility.
Sometimes adoptive families may have a need for additional support. Our program has been successful in working with the unique concerns of adoptive parents and their children.
Many children with Aspergers and PDD face challenges at home, school and in the community. Plumfield Academy's emphasis on communication and social skills development enables our youth to learn new, more successful ways of interacting with family, friends and the wider community.

SCHOOL

Students who have an Individualized Education Plan are eligible to attend Plumfield Academy. Our private Nonpublic School has six highly structured classrooms of 4 to 6 students per class. Core academics, which comply with California State Standards, are taught by teachers with specialized credentials. Aids are available to ensure maximum attention to the individual educational needs of each student. In addition to core academic subjects, students have daily classes in music and physical education.

RESIDENCES

Plumfield Academy has four homes located in the Sebastopol countryside. Each home accommodates six boys, who are cared for and supervised by a four-member counseling team, with a one to three ratio of staff to residents.

CLINICAL SERVICES

Individual, group and family therapy are an important part of our team approach.  Plumfield Academy maintains a highly qualified staff of professionals, many who have worked for decades in our program. Plumfield's multidisciplinary therapeutic team of  licensed clinicians are available for individual, group and family therapy. Our therapists work closely with staff from both the residences and school to develop a consistent treatment approach for each student.

Some boys face difficulties in life that can start them on a downward spiral.

A New Direction Makes A Difference

Some boys face difficulties in life that can start them on a downward spiral. For almost 50 years Plumfield Academy’s dedicated team has helped boys change direction and rise above their challenges. Founded in 1964 by the parents of children with special needs, Plumfield Academy has developed into one of the most successful residential care and education programs of its kind.



Plumfield Academy serves boys ages 6 through 18 who have emotional and behavioral challenges that may be negatively impacting their ability to function successfully with family, friends and in school. At Plumfield Academy, anxiety, fear and a sense of failure are replaced with life skills, academic achievement, and a strong sense of accomplishment.

Plumfield Academy is committed to providing a safe, highly structured environment where change and growth can occur through achievement and positive reinforcement, with the goal of positive reintegration with  family and the wider community.