Our Mission_________________________

The Jefferson School provides special education, mental health, and residential treatment services for children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disabilities. Working closely with the students' families, services are provided which promote family strength and preservation. Students are assisted to reach their full potential and achieve an optimum quality of life. A continuum of services is provided comprised of home-base and community-based program, day school and intensive residential services. A hallmark of The Jefferson School is quality treatment which advances community presence, advocacy, education and research.

Our Vision_________________________

The Jefferson School envisions high quality care and education for young people and their families. Quality care and education are individualized, compassionate, cost effective and are primarily responsive to the needs of students, as well as other customers, payers, families, referrers and staff. The service delivery system emphasizes the use of least restrictive environments, but is mindful of the necessity of the more restrictive options. We strive to provide service within the existing framework of family and community systems. The staff fosters cooperative relationships with agencies that share our commitment to success for each student and optimum quality of life.

Our Values________________________

• We believe in the value, worth and dignity of the students, their families, the staff and each and every "customer" we serve.
• We believe that all of our students have talents and strengths, and can learn and achieve to their fullest potential.
• We believe that all children are entitled to a safe, nurturing and least restrictive environment.
• We believe that improving self esteem, learning productive behaviors, placing value on and fostering the family unit, promoting academic growth, and acquiring functional living skills are the most important aspects of care and treatment.
• We believe in a process of continuous self monitoring and evaluation in order to improve the level of service and respond to the needs of our customers.
• We believe in prevention and early diagnosis and intervention to avoid long-term disability.
• We believe in a commitment to the staff and to the provision of opportunities for their professional growth and development.
• We believe in Sheppard Pratt's Guiding Principles and tradition which promote a culture of quality, caring, self worth, innovation, community service, learning, empowerment and cultural diversity.