FAQs - (frequesntly asked questions)
What type of program is Windwood Farm?We are a private, 501(c) 3 not for profit organization. We provide a variety of residential and community based programs, working with children and families to ensure safety through supportive interventions.
We have two levels of residential care, a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and an Intensive Residential Group Care Program for young boys ages six through sixteen.
In Spring 2011 we opened Windwood Family Services, an out-patient counseling center in Mt. Pleasant at 900 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Suite 110. Windwood Family Servies provides indivodual, group, and family therapy services for children and adolescents 2-21throughout the Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, Daniel Island and West Ashely -areas! (boys and girls!).
Specialized therapy services include Parent Child Interaction Therapy(PCIT) - for children 2-7 and their parents, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behvavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Services are also provided for children residing in the community. These services may be provided on our campus, in our out-patient counseling center, in the home, or the school of the child, or ,at a location that is convenient for the family and child.
Included in this service is individual, group, and family therapy, family support, and behavior modification. New outreach services are geared to assist kinship caregivers navigate the social service system as they are setting up services for the child they have accepted into their home.
Family Group Conferencing is provided to families who are working together to ensure the children in the custody of their extended family are able to remain within the family unit.
Family Strengthening Services and Voluntary Case Management is provided to families in Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties as a preventative service for families who are at risk or are suspected of abuse and neglect of children residing in their home.
What agencies provide oversight to your organization?
As an agency , we are accredited through a national organization, The Council on Accreditation, COA, for maintaining best practice standards.
Our Psychiatic Residentila Treatment Facility, PRTF, is licensed through The Department of Health and Environemntal Control (DHEC).
Our group living service program is licensed through The Department of Social Services(DSS).
The state Fire Marshall provides oversight for both programs. Our state's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides oversight to all of the programs that provide reimbursement through Medicaid. Each program we operate was awarded to us through a state contract that clearly defines our obligations through standards that have been set by the state or by the terms of any grant that has been received. Agency policies and procedures are reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors.
Why are children placed in residential care?
Children are placed in residential programs only after all community based interventions have been exhausted. Children in our residential programs been removed from their homes due to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; exposure to domestic violence; substance abuse or criminal activity in their family; or other unstable home situations. We operate 365 days a year, and while the boys are in placement here, they reside with us 7 days a week. We never close our doors.
What is the length of stay at a residential program at Windwood Farm?
After a child is admitted to Windwood Farm, our interdisciplinary treatment team works together to determine the course of care and treatment and a child's length of stay. Typically, the boys are here about 6-12 months in our long-term program, but some are placed here for as little as 60-90 days.
After a child is admitted to Windwood Farm, our interdisciplinary treatment team works together to determine the course of care and treatment and a child's length of stay. Typically, the boys are here about 6-12 months in our long-term program, but some are placed here for as little as 60-90 days.
How is a child admitted to your programs?We accept referrals from many different state agencies such as The Department of Social Services (DSS), The Department of Mental Health, The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), The Continuum of Care, and the county school districts. Your child must have a sponsoring agency that makes the referral to us. Parents may make self-referrals, but the full cost for our services is their responsibility.
How are you funded?
Our annual budget is close to $3 million dollars. The majority of our funding comes from our fee for service program revenue. Unfortunately, this only covers approximately 70% of the actual costs to operate our programs.
Our annual budget is close to $3 million dollars. The majority of our funding comes from our fee for service program revenue. Unfortunately, this only covers approximately 70% of the actual costs to operate our programs.
As a funded partner with the Trident United Way, we are allocated a community investment award from their annual campaign. The Duke Endowment, The Charleston Sertoma Club, local civic organizations, places of worship, and state and local foundations such as The Sisters of Charity and The Coastal Community Foundation's directed funds are also sources for grant monies we receive.
Financial support from individual donors and a solid, dedicated group of volunteers who assist us in many ways to defer costs, are vital in maintaining our programs and make up for the additonal 30% needed to balance our budget.
How can I make a monetary donation?
Your private donation is made as a tax-deductible gift to us. It can be made in the form of cash, stock, or real estate to name a few of our giving opportunities. You can make a donation to our general operating fund or you can designate it's use. It can also be used as an honorarium or memorial for a loved one. We always honor the request of our donors and will keep you informed of how the money has been spent. You may contact our Director of Development at ext. 225 or our Business Department at ext. 226 for further details.
Your private donation is made as a tax-deductible gift to us. It can be made in the form of cash, stock, or real estate to name a few of our giving opportunities. You can make a donation to our general operating fund or you can designate it's use. It can also be used as an honorarium or memorial for a loved one. We always honor the request of our donors and will keep you informed of how the money has been spent. You may contact our Director of Development at ext. 225 or our Business Department at ext. 226 for further details.
What type of volunteer opportunities do you have?Many different individuals and either civic or church related organizations volunteer their time and talent to Windwood Farm. We have a number of work days scheduled throughout the year where volunteers tackle projects on our campus.Volunteers are also a vital part of our fund raising campaigns as either committee members, ambassadors of public relations throughout our community, or by manning booths, selling tickets, and helping us to organize the festivities.
We appreciate the opportunity to meet new friends, and we rely on this source of manpower to accomplish much of our property maintenance. Without volunteers we could not adequately maintain our facilities nor offer as many social opportunities to our boys. Each year, we attribute saving several tens of thousands of dollars in purchasing services, goods, and labor becuase of our loyal volunteers.
What type of education service is provided there?
Charleston County School District provides education services for children in our residential placements in a self contained separate school setting in our on-campus school. There is a primary, elementary, and a middle school program taught by master level special education teachers. Each classroom also has two aides that assist in providing academic enrichment to our boys. Our staff provides behavior modification services to the boys who attend this school. Once the boys stabilize their behavior and are able to perform academically in a general setting, they may be mainstreamed into a community school.
Charleston County School District provides education services for children in our residential placements in a self contained separate school setting in our on-campus school. There is a primary, elementary, and a middle school program taught by master level special education teachers. Each classroom also has two aides that assist in providing academic enrichment to our boys. Our staff provides behavior modification services to the boys who attend this school. Once the boys stabilize their behavior and are able to perform academically in a general setting, they may be mainstreamed into a community school.
Can my child just go to school there?
At this time, only the children that reside at Windwood Farm are eligible to attend school on our campus; but stay tunes because we hope to be able to invite children who live in the community to enroll in our school in the near future.
At this time, only the children that reside at Windwood Farm are eligible to attend school on our campus; but stay tunes because we hope to be able to invite children who live in the community to enroll in our school in the near future.
Are medications prescribed in your residential programs?
All medication related to the management of behaviors are prescribed by our attending psychiatrist/Medical Director James E. McKinney, M.D. In cases of physical illness, our staff nurse consults with a local pediatrician who prescribes medications as needed. Our nurse also acts as a primary nurse manager for children who live with us who have chronic medical issues. She arranges for ongoing medical care that demand speialized attention, medical check-ups, and dental exams. We also make sure all the children's immunizations are up to date.
All medication related to the management of behaviors are prescribed by our attending psychiatrist/Medical Director James E. McKinney, M.D. In cases of physical illness, our staff nurse consults with a local pediatrician who prescribes medications as needed. Our nurse also acts as a primary nurse manager for children who live with us who have chronic medical issues. She arranges for ongoing medical care that demand speialized attention, medical check-ups, and dental exams. We also make sure all the children's immunizations are up to date.
