Community Support Services

Polaris-STARR is a community based; family centered, co-educational short-term program for latency aged children, located in Haverhill, MA. The program serves children and families from the Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill Department of Social Services (DSS) area offices. The program's primary goal is Stabilization, Assessment and Rapid Reintegration for children and families in crisis.

Polaris-STARR offers children a residential respite from family life when necessary. It provides a safe and nurturing environment for the child while supporting the family as it works toward reunifying and and living together permanently.

Polaris-STARR has a 24-hour emergency intake capability. The program offers children a short term placement of 1 to 45 days that includes an extensive range of services, including therapy for the child and the family, residential placement behavior management, case management, educational tutoring, advocacy, skills development, recreational activities and family outreach. The program uses a network of community health providers for health, dental and emergency services and supports families in maintaining their child in the care of their local PCP’s. Length of stay should not exceed 45 days without the approval from DSS and the Lead Agency.

With an emphasis on family preservation and permanency, Polaris-STARR works from a strength-based perspective. Family collaterals, including community supports, are an integral part of the treatment model. All supports that exist in the family unit at the time of admission will be included in the treatment planning whenever feasible with DSS and Lead Agency assistance. By providing a single door for short-term placement and family treatment, Polaris-STARR believes that the number of fragmented services will be reduced resulting in improvements in permanency outcomes.

When a home situation has deteriorated to such an extend that it is not in the best interest of the child or the family to stay together, Polaris-STARR becomes an option to provide the child and the family with a supportive respite environment in which to learn the necessary skills to return to family life. The child and the family will be assisted during this period in developing a plan for the child’s reintegration into the home. Each child’s advocate will assess their needs and will facilitate family meetings where appropriate, with the goal of assisting the family in focusing on its challenges and networking the resources it needs, either through HES programs or other community agencies.

Where reunification is not possible, the program will give DSS its permanency plan recommendations based on clinical and milieu assessments.

Polaris –STARR has a nurse on-call system that provides 24-hour on-call services and resources for staff. The program staff insures that client's medical needs are met. The Program staff also dispenses medications and provides other health care services on shifts. Merrimac Valley Hospital and Children’s Health Care in Haverhill provide staff and clients with extended services and medical needs that are vital to our population.

In order to minimize disruption to a child’s education while at Polaris-STARR, students will have the option to be bussed daily to their community (or alternative) school. A program tutor is available to help with homework or attend to student academic needs while awaiting an IEP, etc.

Treatment does not end when the family is reunified. Wrap-around services, community support and ongoing pre-existing, culturally competent care will be provided to families through their lead DSS agency.

The program is able to provide aftercare and transitional support to youth and families from the Haverhill Area.

2 beds contracted through Haverhill DSS, 3 beds contracted through Lawrence DSS, 3 beds contracted through Lowell DSS

Living room

Kitchen

Single bedroom

Double bedroom

TV room

TV

Sitting area

Entry area sitting