The RFKCAC Programs Lancaster
Lancaster
Lancaster provides residential, clinical, and educational services for more than 50 boys and girls ranging in age from 7 to 18. Most of the children who live on the Lancaster campus are referred by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and remain in residence anywhere from one month to one year, depending upon the type of services required. We also provide residential care for children with short-term needs, as well as day and after-school programs for off-campus students. Services at Lancaster include:
- Long-term and short-term residential treatment
- Day-student education and therapy
- Emergency assessment and respite care
- Special education assessment and placement
- Special education and support for elementary, middle, and high school students
- Group and family therapy
- Family support services
- Adventure education, including NYPUM (National Youth Project Using Minibikes)
A continuum of care
Whether a child stays at Lancaster for a few weeks, months, or a year, we strive to deliver the most complete level of care based on his or her individual needs. We work closely with children, parents, and guardians to help ease the transition back into the home or other less-restrictive setting as quickly as possible. Our family support services, which provide housing information, job coaching, and therapy, begin when children are in residence at Lancaster and may continue for months after they leave.
Long-term residents at Lancaster attend school at the Robert F. Kennedy School at Lancaster, a state-approved special education school that is also open to off-campus students for day and after-school programs. The school is part of an integrated program of care, which includes clinical services, outdoor activities, vocational arts, and adventure education.
Adventure Education is a unique and critical component of our programming, at Lancaster and throughout the agency. Daily activities such as rock climbing, hiking, and camping expose children to new experiences, teach them to work with others, and help them build confidence.
Children can also earn the privilege of riding minibikes at Lancaster’s NYPUM program site. The National Youth Project Using Minibikes is a countrywide network of 50 programs sponsored by the American Honda Motor Company and supervised by the RFK Children’s Action Corps.
In 2006, a new residence and family center opened on the Lancaster campus, greatly enhancing the quality of life for the children who live, learn, and heal in Lancaster. The facility is divided into four wings, each containing six double and six single bedrooms, with dedicated space for recreation, study, and family meetings, as well as small dining rooms for family-style meals.