Leader's Way - The 28 Day SUWS Program

SUWS of the Carolinas is proud to offer families and referring professionals a variety of skilled treatment options for families in need.  One powerful and intense option for families searching for a high impact experience for their son or daughter prior to attending residential placement is our Leader’s Way program.  Below is an explanation of the program, its members, schedule, expectations, and therapeutic impact.

Leader's Way student profile:

  • Focused on Transition to Residential Treatment OR Very Likely to Succeed at Home after the Program
  • Intended Target: 14-16 years old
  • Presenting diagnoses:
    • Low self-esteem 
    • Learning difference
    • Depression
    • Attention deficit disorder
    • Entitlement issues
    • Drug or alcohol use
    • Family conflict
    • Negative peer relationships
    • Mood stability issues
    • Anxiety
    • Isolation
    • Defiant or manipulative behavior

Success Defined:

  • A Successful Leader's Way Experience...
    • …will increase the chances of a healthy transition experience.
    • …will allow a team member time to achieve personal growth in an intimate group.
    • …will offer opportunities of success and certifications prior to long term placement.
    • …will allow a team member an opportunity to have an accelerated beginning to long term care.

Success Demonstrated:

  • A Successful Leader’s Way Member will…
    • …receive AHA First Aid/CPR certification.
    • …be skilled in providing safety for self and others on the ropes course through belaying and spotting.
    • …have a greater sense of accountability, shown through the Letter of Accountability.
    • …experience open dialogue with families.
    • …have participated in two rescue scenarios.
    • …have knowledge of wilderness skills in not only a survival setting but a rescue setting as well.
    • …have an opportunity to participate in a healthy transition process to long term placement.

Weekly Schedule:

  • Week One Focus:
    • Group Immersion
    • Acclimation to the Wilderness
    • First Aid & CPR Skills / Certification
    • Communication Skills
    • Wilderness Skills
    • Focused Ropes Activities

      • Week One Phases & Goals:
        • Safety & Individual Phases
        • Awareness of self and demonstration of physical and emotional safety.
  • Week Two Focus:
    • Advanced Wilderness Skills
    • Accountability
    • Leadership Development
    • Identifying the Intrinsic Drive to Do More
    • Group Cohesiveness
    • Focused Ropes Activities

      • Week Two Phases & Goals:
        • Individual & Community Phases
        • Keeping self safe while developing a sense of accountability for self and others (group, family, etc).
        • Expanding communication skills to allow for healthy dialogues between self and group/family/others. 
        • Comprehension of social constructs and beginning to develop an identity within society.
  • Week Three Focus: 
    • Land Navigation
    • Solidifying First Aid & CPR skills and First Aid Kit
    • Owning Personal Power
    • Finalizing Goals of Future Placement
    • Solos
    • Focused Ropes Activities

      • Week Three Phases & Goals:
        • Community & Responder Phases
        • Expanding on the sense of self in society to develop an understanding of one’s responsibility to the world around them
        • Explore the benefits of altruism in the roles of leader, helper, rescuer
  • Week Four Focus:
    • Staying Found
    • Two Search & Rescue Scenarios
    • Acknowledgments
    • Graduation
    • Focused Ropes Activities

      • Week Four Phases & Goals:
        • Responder Phase
        • Experience the therapeutic benefits of being the leader, helper, and rescuer of self and for others.
        • Generalize these experiences to transition into long term placement feeling accomplished and skilled.

Therapeutic Impact:

  • Intense focus on Transition to Long Term Care
  • Removal of Distractions
  • Group Cohesiveness
  • Experiential Activities
  • First Aid & CPR Certification