Educational Focus
 Our Educational Program, in accordance with the Core Content Curriculum Standards, is designed to enable students to function successfully in academics.  
  • The Individual Educational Plan (IEP) provides for an intensive program geared to the student's age level functioning, maturity, behavior and learning style.
  • At age 14 an Individual Transitional Plan (ITP) is developed that helps the student focus on possible career goals and assesses the student's career interests and independence.
  • All students learn at their own pace and progress according to their own mastery of grade level skills.
  • Related services include Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Individual Counseling.
  • The Educational Program includes Art, PE/Health, field trips, assemblies, and a nutritional hot lunch.
  • Additional services include an Orton-Gillingham multisensory remedial reading program made available by our LDT-C/Dyslexia Specialist for those students with a specific language-based reading disability, i.e. Dyslexia.
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Individualized Treatment
Respect for the unique strengths and needs of the child is the philosophy which underlies all treatment.
  • Clinical treatment is provided by Licensed Clinical Social Workers who are also the team leaders.
  • Each treatment plan is individually tailored to the child, based on a comprehensive assessment.
  • The child's progress is monitored closely and the plan is modified as needed to ensure that it is appropriate and relevant to his changing needs.

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Team Approach
The philosophy of Somerset Hills includes a teamwork approach.  The entire staff is sensitive to the importance of their essential role in crystallizing the school's positive effect on its students.
  • There is frequent communication among all staff who interact with the child.
  • Team goals are developed and evaluated in treatment meetings held twice per year.
  • The treatment meetings are attended by representatives from all departments and outside agencies when appropriate.
  • The student receives the necessary support and structure to succeed.

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Therapeutic Environment
The therapeutic goals at Somerset Hills are to help the students learn positive behavior for coping with stress and expression of feeling and to improve the quality of their relationships.
  • Each child becomes involved in individual therapy with a clinically trained MSW social worker at least weekly.  Emphasis is placed upon working with natural, adoptive, and foster families to help improve family dynamics.
  • Crisis intervention specialists, headed by a specially trained MSW social worker, help to defuse outburst situations and provide counseling to students in crisis.  Supervised time-out areas are maintained for students unable to cope with classroom stimulation.

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