As clients progress through Special Tree’s vocational training programs, many have developed strong work-readiness skills for community-based employment but haven’t put them to the test to make sure they’re ready to successfully get and keep a job.

That was the case with Paul, a vocational client since 2009, whose goal was to obtain a job as a dietary aide.  According to Special Tree Vocational Counselor Tara Forster, one way to gauge if clients like Paul are ready to work in the community is through natural support work experiences at Special Tree’s NeuroCare Center.  “With housekeeping, laundry, and kitchen service work available, it’s a win-win approach that allow clients to test out their work-readiness skills without a job coach,” she said.

Tara works closely with Vickie Lambert, Special Tree’s Manager...

We're celebrating Day Treatment Services and Vocational Services Week here at Special Tree!  Get to know one member of the team Brooke Foulds, CTRS, new Clinical Team Leader for the Mid-Michigan Day Treatment (DTS) and Pediatric Rehabilitation programs.  Brooke is a Certified Recreational Therapist and has worked with Special Tree's Pediatric Rehabilitaiton team at the Neuro Skills Center in Troy for the past three years.  She recently moved to Midland to be a part of the exciting expansion of Special Tree's DTS and Pediatric programming in Mid-Michigan.

Special Tree has Day Treatment Services and Vocational Services programs in Wayne, Oakland, and Midland Counties that strive to provide the best qualtiy of life to our clients through community outings, recreational activities, community-based job coaching, vocatio...

Since the Special Tree Discover! Summer program kicked-off on June 17^th, the students have enjoyed a range of therapeutic activities ranging from art projects and community outings to cooking meals and building pre-vocational skills training through the Youth Work Program. 

Therapeutic Art
Throughout the summer, our students engage in art projects devised by the Recreational Therapy team to help build functional skills such as fine motor skills, visual processing, and more.  Each project relates to the theme for the week.  For Week 1, themed  “Farm to Table”,  the kids did Udder Painting and planted a garden; followed by making DIY bouncy balls during Week 2, themed “Let’s Have a Ball.”

Community-Based Outings
When doing community ou...

Special Tree has a fabulous reputation for helping clients achieve the best outcomes possible. But sometimes an outcome turns out to be bigger and better than a client could ever have imagined.  That’s what happened to Keith M., a client at our Riverview location, who was enjoying a night out with staff on April 13th as part of his Quality of Life (QOL) goal when the unexpected occurred.

Keith’s goal was to have a steak at Outback Steakhouse and then shoot some pool.  QOL goals are based on a Quality of Life Survey that every residential client takes at the beginning of the year to identify three obtainable goals they would like to accomplish to enhance their quality of life.  Residential House Managers and their staff, plus any other representative involved (case manager, guardian), help each client to accomplish...