The Jefferson School
2940 Point of Rocks Road
Jefferson, MD 21755 Phone: 240.315.0200

The R.I.V.E.R.S. Program at the Jefferson School offers individualized treatment for males 12-18 years of age who exhibit problematic sexual behaviors. Adolescents in treatment exhibit a wide range of sexual behaviors including incidents of adjudicated sexual offenses; others engage in sexually reactive behaviors as a result of previous victimization or traumatic experiences.

A Clinical Milieu Manager/Therapist, Psychiatrist, Nurse, Residential Counselors and peers help residents deal with the sequellae sexual abuse—across the spectrum of having been sexually abused to committing acts of sexual aggression against others. The Treatment Team recognizes that the young people with whom we work are much more than the individual’s sexual behaviors that have preceded them into treatment. They are whole people with a wide range of interests, strengths and skills. We help them take responsibility for and work through their problematic sexual behaviors by gaining self-understanding, improving social interactions and learning problem-solving skills necessary to return successfully to families and communities.

There are two secure units (Potomac and Shenandoah) that house up to eight youth each. Residents attend school in classrooms on campus at The Jefferson School during the school day. Teachers and Residential Counselors support the clinical components of the treatment program as well as facilitate educational programming. A river visually represents the collaborative efforts of residents, families, staff and society—moving forward, working together and merging in a positive direction. It is the vision of The R.I.V.E.R.S. Program to:

• RECOGNIZE any and all issues that may be obstacles for healthy growth and development.
• INTERNALIZE positive power and control, in order to recover what may have been lost due to abuse they may have suffered, sexual or otherwise.
• VERBALIZE thoughts and feelings in a safe positive space in regular group, individual, family and milieu therapies.
• Develop EMPATHY through experiences which help students take responsibility for their behaviors and understand how their actions affect others.
• RESPECT themselves and others by maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Develop the appropriate SOCIAL SKILLS needed to reintegrate into their communities successfully and live responsibly.

Group, individual, family and milieu therapies merge in the three distinct phases of the clinical program founded on what research has shown to be best practice. Cognitive Behavioral therapy and a standardized psycho-educational curriculum are basics to our treatment. Assignments and psychotherapy are then individualized to each resident’s needs. Reading and writing requirements are adapted for varying skills and developmental levels of the residents.

Criteria for Admission/Exclusion Criteria
• Male applicants with significant sexualized behaviors are served in our 16-bed R.I.V.E.R.S. program. We do not admit sexually disinhibited individuals directly into our general programs.