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VisionQuest NEWSLETTER

A monthly publication produced by the youth and staff of Vision Quest to provide a continuing source of information for colleagues and friends concerning the treatment of youth.

Liberating each child victimized by man's hostile environments and institutions, to be his own unique

self, capable of improving his or our world is our basic aim and the source of our deep sense of urgency.

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July/August 1978

Volume II, No. 1

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the Cochise County Juvenile Court firect grant from "EAA that would add The ar wing network of services This prenosal would

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of services for troubled CWT) More Nw, cre xrant has been approved and Vialoneleted as the froder The tally begin as a yn as the con

street program will parallel f the He/Street ProgramS erra vista The thrust of the je a variety of resources that and divert youth from into the costly fuvenile tal health systema

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currently a family counselor {n ཟ1་ e༠ has been selected to head Staff in D. anlas Mary youth have referred to the prograr and additional eirg erited

t: Sie! Probation Officer at the Laverle Curt is enthusiastic number si alternative services that are rexity in the County In addition to treer Program developments, this year "a Department of Pyymic Se rity has Te dis, retionary power in the way Exeted money This provides the with the ality implement a myriad of es that allow a greater mmber of youth to be star towely treated wildn Delr WT communities without increasing the overall cost

COLORADO SPRINGS PROM

On June 16, the Colorado Springs program enJoved its first Annual Awards Ceremory and Prom Originally conceived in early spring by VisionQuest Learning Center principal Over Mikeal, the idea of all kids helping to produce and prepare for the Prom began to generate its own enthusiasm Each house raised $100 through car wishes t pay for taxedo rental and f real gown The Learning Center held a craft sale to Taise tional funds There was a week of waitz prie heid in the schonl courtyard for kids and staff The Awar is Ceremony was attended by pares. caseworkers and probation officers Ai. kids began by promeneding twice around the audience in their elevant formal wear Accompanied by music and applause Diretor Steve RATS troduced the program highlighting the

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and strong tradition the Colorado Springs youth had developed from the Wagon Train and two incredible visiong Jests and the continuing strong sense of concern and arity among the program's youth

After the Awards Ceremony all mingled briefly and proceeded to the banquet hall for the From ake Devonshire had prepared an unbelievable sound system by raiding almost all staff's stere: equine?! Punch and snacks were available through the direction of Michael Gehring

Dancing was directed by ace DJ Doug Hopkins A highlight of the evening was the "Collins House Shuffle" performed by youth and staff of Collins Mouse-an act easily worthy of an appearance on the Gong Show Everyone left exhausted at midnight

This year's Awards Ceremony and Prom was an overwhelming success and certainly sets the tone and style for many more gala events of the future

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WILDERNESS PROGRAM

In addition to conducting the intensive two week wilderness trip, the visionquest wilderness staff are involved continually in a variety of other activities such as rock climbing. Ma.kpacking and river trips During May, eight youth from the Arizona program were selected to participate in an eight day bicycling trip through Northern Arizona Planning and supervising the trip were Carl Griesser, Nettle White Judy Calcagno and Ray Ensing Beginning at Granite Dells north of Prescott the group spent an ex it ing day bicycling up one side of Mingus M tair and then sailing down the other side through histcric Jerome The events of the next seven days included enjoying picturesque Oak Creek Canyon bicycling over steep, difficult and incredibly beautiful terrain, exploring the ancient Infian ruins at Tuzigoot and Wupatki National Monuments and viewing the natural wonders of Sunset Crater and the Grand Canyon

The trip introduced these young people to a new perspective on their relationship to nature and to the past The route chosen allowed first hand exposure to geographical terrain varying fr. desert to mountain, as well as the opportunity to view historical evidence of civilizations spanning centuries Combining educational value with the discipline and cohesiveness required of the group to travel over 250 miles by bicycle, the trip gave these youth a tremendous opportunity for increased personal growth

65-183 O 81 26 (pt. II)

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As one focal point for the development of a comprehensive adolescent treatment service delivery system, VisionQuest has designed a rural treatment setting located near Elfrida, Arizona which will offer numerous treatment options for the severely emotionally disturbed as well as further refine a unique wilderness program that is closely integrated with the already existing network of VisionQuest community-based residential treatment settings The physical plant consists of a "Lodge", with a stable, and a "main house" The Lodge is located at the base of the Swiss Helm Mountains providing access to an extremely workable wilderness area

The Lodge provides a highly structured atmosphere for youth in need of intensive treatment in that the size and location of the ranch promotes control but does not eliminate reasonable access to the community for both children and staff members An on-grounds school will offer classes for emotionally-handicapped and learning disabled youth on a year-round basis The geographic area provides tangible background for a wide range of study from history to geology. Land around the Lodge will be developed into playing fields A large swimming pool already

exists

Programming at the Lodge will offer both long and short term care to youth whose treatment would benefit from participation in rigorous. stress-oriented wakon trains (of both long and short duration). back-packing, rock climbing. camping, horseback expeditions combined with the responsibilities of life on a ranch, geared specifically to treatment needs The mountainous area east of the Lodge is ideal for wilderness expeditions of various kinds, the main focus of which is the success-oriented, controlled-risk "survival" program on which VisionQuest bases much of its treatment philosophy.

The facility will also have the capability of serving as a back-up to meet specialized needs of children, in the Pima and Cochise Counties' residential programs, who would benefit from being temporarily removed and placed in a more controlled setting. or a setting that offers the daily, specific responsibilities and physical investment which are a part of the ranch environment. In addition, as space is available, group homes from the Bisbee and Tucson programs will be allowed weekend trips to the Lodge as a form of recreation

The Wagon Train headquarters have been established in Elfrida Here also, train. fer the next wagon train is taking place as learn to ride, care for their animais, and rake responsibility for assisting with preparat. for the expedition.

A Barbeque is planned for July 8th at w. Morris Udall will be the guest of Nomur Mex. an cuisine is planned with entertainment by a mariachi band

THE CONGRESS

VisionQuest Management decided early in 1978 that a vehicle was needed to hring key representatives together from all program areas and locations to hold the first "Congress. "a! meetings of the agency The purpose of the Congress was to establish a consensus in a number of crucial philosophic areas, to update core staff on programmatic change, and to establish a direction for the future growth of the agency

The Congress convened June 1st at the Vise Quest Lodge in Elfrida, Arizona, and involved a core group of staff who, in the first five years of operation, committed themselves t positi-s of responsibility and leadership in the agenc Participating in the Congress were the three founders of VisionOuest R Ledger Burton Executive Director, Steven Rogers. Director Colorado Programs, and Sandy Eggleston. Director. Arizona Programs Also in attendance were other staff representing Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico Others, invited because of their crucial roles in the field of Juvenile Justice were Marion Cerf, VisionQuest Board of Advisors and Don Orr, Chief Probation Officer, Ccch.se County Juvenile Court Both Mrs Cerf and My Orr participated in specially designed workshops in areas of their expertise

Each day began at 7 am with an opening "Circle", which laid the ground work for the day s proceedings Discussions during the four-day long Congress were generally delineated in frur sections philosophy, organizational groundwork

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Among The specific topics addressed were The (ire Role cf wmes Roles kole Clarifications, 1a. keal.ties Contra tiny and Purchase of Ap +ise unty Development Airs Foster Care and After Care Peromrei and Retting and Responsibilities of State ard Exetive fi es In the CPAs if the newsletter we will *me of the con lusicrs reached in many ! these areas ALASKA TRIP

Each summer. group homes plan vacation trips Past tripa have included the Florida Keys New Enaar d anada Perhaps the most extensively Flared trip to this date is the trip currently underway to Alaska Seven youth were selected from the Tice and Bisbee programs who would parti.arly enefit from such an experience Lead." the gr were 11 and Debbie Orat. veteran Vision est emp! vees and avid outd or erch ass and Dane Grier youth counselor and former Northern Arizona niversity intern Travel* in tv 419 Pilling a Feat and equipped with crete art ng gear the group plans to take a tal of three oths to complete the trip At this writ."x aravan is progressing north on the Aan Highway through the Canadian

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of pe pie and animals that are in one of the four directions and how they seek and find their other places on the Wheel

The Shields

The shields are symbols for negle Fach person has a shield that told e were and the ways they followed It tells what part of the Medicine Wheel that they were at A shield would teil if a person was frightened of Something and what it was

The Stories

One of the stories is called "The ring Stone This is about a boy in his teens wh has been told of a stone that sings and he warts to go and find it He started JE On his first day he saw a fire and wanted to R back but refused to give up The se nd day he Crossed beautiful land and then rested "Ye third day he came to a river It was large and he was frightened but continued He finally ford the singing stone r nct until he had many de curs He was a string persor a 1 kept going until he f and the piace he was searching for

The book has many stories in it ar 1 each one tells in one way or anther of a personis ex periences and how they scught their goals ard reached them The Plains Intars were a string people turned into warriors by the white mar The white mar came to their land and 414.t anderstand them or their ways so they f against them There were many white mer v against fighting and as a lot of India. the old way gradually left the plains people and the few pea e r thers that were left there was nothing they ould do Too many of their people had turned to killing

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COMMUNITY FOLLOW-UP STUDY

OF VISIONQUEST YOUTH DISCHARGED
FROM PIMA AND COCHISE COUNTIES

Prepared By

BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

2030 East Speedway⚫ Tucson, Arizona

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