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Home My WebLink About1999-03-12 NAC Ltr - Applicant ResponseN INC March 12, 1999 Mr. Will -Zintal--- 2/51 W.A.T.E. Enterprises Inc. 11255 50th Street North Lake Elmo, MN 55042 RE: Oak Park Heights - Application for Conditional Use Permit: HSI FILE NO: 798.02 - 99.05 Dear Mr. 24-Fttel-..-- Zirt5Th We are in receipt of your application for a conditional use permit for the HSI facility proposed for your building at 5620 Memorial Avenue North in the Kern Center. In order to complete your application, the required fees and information related to the request must be submitted at least 20 days before the public hearing of for the Planning Commission. The next Planning Commission meeting in which this could be heard is April 15, 1999. A fee schedule is attached. For a conditional use permit, $300.00 is required for the base fee and $300.00 for the escrow deposit. You should also submit a copy of a site plan for your building and a diagram of the area to be occupied by HSI. From HSI we should receive a detailed description of their operations proposed for the site including numbers of students/teachers, hours of operation, transportation plans, and a general profile of the program. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me. Sincerely, NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS, INC. Scott D. Richards, Al P Senior Planner pc: Kris Danielson Bob Butler NORTHWEST ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS COMM U N ITY PLANNING - DESIGN - MARKET RESEARCH 5775 WAYZATA BOULEVARD, SUITE 555 ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA 554 1 6 PHONE 612-595-9636 FAX 612-595-9837 E-MAIL NAC WINTERNET.COM HSI Human services, Inc., in Washington County, Minnesota An equal opportunity employer March 18, 1999 Will Zintl President Zintl Inc. 5 640 Memorial Ave. N. Stillwater, MN 55082 Dear Mr. Zintl, The following is in response to the request from Oak Park Heights for information regarding the operations planned by Human Services, Inc., for the facility at 5 620 Memorial Avenue in the Kern Center in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota. This facility will be used to house the expansion of two programs which currently serve children and youth in Washington County. The Therapeutic Learning Center Day Treatment Program, and the PLACE (People Learning A Cooperative Existence) Program, will share space in the new facility and will serve up to 18 children, 12 to 17 years of age, whose emotional and/or behavioral difficulties make it impossible for them to make use of the academic resources in their school districts and leaves them at risk for placement in hospitals, residential treatment centers, foster care or a juvenile detention facilities. Due to the success of these programs in helping children avoid out of home placement and improve their level of functioning, the agencies involved have taken steps to expand these services to meet the growing need in our school districts and communities. The Therapeutic Learning Center ('TLC) will provide mental health services to 8 children, ages 12- 15, who have a severe emotional disturbance which inhibits their functioning at home, in school, or in the community. It is a joint venture of Human Services, Inc. and the school districts located within or partially within Washington County: District 622 (North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale); District 831 (Forest Lake Area Schools); District 832 (Mahtomedi School District); District 833 (South Washington County Area Schools); 834 (Stillwater Area Schools); District 624 (White Bear Lake Area Schools). The TLC program is a blend of four elements: education, therapy, parent partnerships and behavior management. The educational component is designed to address the specific academic issues of children with special needs. It assists students in developing the study skills and behavioral control necessary to be successful in their home school district. The curriculum offers classes including math, reading, language arts, science and social studies. The therapy component provides an variety of interventions including individual and group therapy, family therapy, psychiatry, social skills and independent living skills therapy and recreational therapy. Most of the children who will attend TLC have experienced trauma or failure in some important part of their lives. The therapy component allows them to explore and resolve those issues in a safe, nurturing environment. The behavior management program is designed to encourage children to :i Oakdale 7066 Stillwater Boulevard North Oakdale, MN 55128 - 612 777-5222 Stillwater 375 East Orleans Street Stillwater, MN 55082 -6603 612 430 -2720 Forest Lake 308 S.W. 15th Street Forest Lake, MN 55025 -1379 612 464 -9840 7 Cottage Grove 8200 Hadley Avenue South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 -2666 612 458 -4116 take full responsibility for their behavioral choices and help them internalize the control needed to succeed in school, with their families and in the community. Through a system of rewards and consequences, children develop the necessary control to maintain themselves successfully upon discharge from TLC. Parent involvement is an integral part of the Therapeutic Learning Center. They are active participants in the development of treatment goals, and at minimum, attend regularly scheduled progress review meetings. Most families attend family therapy provided by staff from TLC or by other therapists at HSI. TLC maintains a close, collaborative relationship with the participating school districts, who provide referrals to the program. Program staff keep regular contact with the districts to share information vital to the long term success ofthe student. Upon discharge from TLC, a transition period is scheduled where the student returns to their school on a part time basis, to insure that treatment gains are generalized to the school setting. TLC will be staffed by a licensed Special Education Instructor, a Program Therapist and a Life Skills Counselor. Additional support is available from the program supervisor, interns from area colleges and support staff. Transportation will be provided by Humans Services, Inc. through the use of the HSI Transporters. Students will be dropped off at the program at about 8:30 A.M. and picked up at about 2:30. Drop offs and pick ups will take place in the back (west side) of the building. The PLACE Program is a collaborative program of the Washington County Juvenile Corrections Department and the school districts listed above. PLACE will serve up to 10 children and youth, age 1347, who are experiencing significant adjustment difficulties at school and who are under the supervision ofthe Juvenile Court. In order to attend the program, they must be manageable in a community based program and demonstrate a willingness and motivation to change their behavior to avoid incarceration. PLACE offers a special education setting including educational and psychological assessment. The correctional focus of the program is to teach the students to be responsible for their behavior. This is achieved through the use of peer pressure, daily point scores, individual and group counseling which utilizes a cognitive/ behavioral approach. The program aims to develop interpersonal competencies and skills. PLACE prioritizes a caring and respectful relationship with others, and emphasizes the development of an understanding for individual student strengths and struggles. In order to include parents in students' behavior changes, parents are contacted weekly and encouraged to attend group meetings twice per month. The PLACE Program will be staffed by a certified teacher, Probation Officer and a Life Skills Counselor. Additional staffing support is provided by the Program Supervisor and Support Staff. Transportation will be provided by the school districts where the students reside. As with TLC, the students will be dropped off at approximately 8:30 A.M. and picked up at about 2:30 P.M. If you have further questions or would like any other information regarding HSI's use of this building, please contact Mark Kuppe, Psy.D. at (651) 251 -5040. Sincerely, Robert T. Butler Chief Executive Officer Human Services, Inc. 411 4 94 =°- - ~"/ / ° ' ~~ ~ �' ,,.....,~ . '.~ -^ -- ' '', ~~ ~~ _ ...... 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