Situated on the campus of Shrub Oak International School, the Pines at Shrub Oak is a specialized therapeutic program designed to address the unique needs of autistic adolescents who also require intensive psychiatric support. Students and their families will work closely with a team of skilled professionals, as well as their school districts when appropriate, and will receive an array of highly individualized educational and clinical services including medication management; individual, group, and family therapy; academic instruction and educational support; life skill development; recreational engagement; and other related services as indicated.
The goal of the Pines is to support students in a residential setting to develop skills and manage symptoms to promote improved emotional and behavioral regulation and safety. Once this has been achieved, the team will work diligently to transition students to an appropriate less-restrictive environment, which could include consideration for admission to Shrub Oak International School.
Students are accepted on a rolling admissions basis. To be considered for admission to the Pines, students should be between the ages of 12 and 17 years old. An interview and 90-day minimum stay are required. For more information, contact Lauren Koffler, MSW, Head of Admissions, Communications and Client Relations at lkoffler@shruboak.org or (914) 885-1995.
Both the Pines and Shrub Oak International School are LGBTQ+ inclusive programs.
Active Psychosis (hallucinations or delusions) • Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder) • Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Bipolar I Disorder (BPD I), Bipolar II Disorder (BPD II) • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) • Depressive Disorders (Clinical Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder) • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) • Early-Onset Psychosis (EOP) • Elopement • Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) • Medically Fragile • Mood Disorders • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) • Personality Disorders • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) • Schizoaffective Disorder • Schizophrenia • Social Isolation • Trauma
Animal Harm • Eating Disorders • Gang Involvement • Homicidality • Predatory Sexualized Behavior • Pregnancy • Substance Use Disorder • Trafficked Youth • Type 1 Diabetes
Students will receive highly individualized academic instruction in a personalized setting tailored to their needs. Educators will deliver creative and innovative lessons designed to enhance engagement within the academic setting. Classroom student-to-staff ratio will be 2:1 with a maximum of 6 students in each class. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, students will benefit from an interdisciplinary approach, where each class will have an assigned mental health clinician whose office will be directly in the classroom.
Our highly individualized curriculum will also mirror the curriculum design of Shrub Oak’s Diploma Student Cohort with a vision for transferability into the Core Program if appropriate upon readiness for discharge from The Pines. Content will include a focus on core academic subjects and opportunities for project-based learning, as well as emphasis on relationship building, social and life skill development, and student empowerment. Emotional regulation will also be a key component of classroom curriculum, and The Pines treatment model will be based heavily in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which will be interwoven into our lesson planning and classroom activities.
Upon admission to the Pines, students receive comprehensive clinical assessment to help the team build an initial understanding of the student’s unique developmental and psychiatric needs. This assessment and the expressed goals of the youth and their family or caregiver(s) are the driving force in mapping the initial plan for treatment. The philosophical approach to treatment is rooted in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which emphasizes both understanding and adapting maladaptive patterns of behavior and developing tangible skills to support both that behavior change, and emotion regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. This approach is then woven throughout the treatment milieux to help ensure maximal integration into the student’s daily routine.
In the context of this philosophy, students receive highly individualized clinical treatment from a primary mental health therapist and team of clinical providers, to include intensive individual and group therapy, as well as frequent psychiatric consultation. This individualized approach emphasizes the strengths and interests of each student, and strives to promote safety, empowerment, and optimal functioning for that student and their family. Family engagement is at the heart of the clinical treatment, and frequent team meetings and family sessions are used to help ensure that all success achieved during treatment can be transferred and integrated beyond the treatment environment.
In addition to having 24/7 nursing stationed directly on the Pines unit, Shrub Oak maintains a 24/7, year-round Health & Wellness department to care for the medical and nursing needs of all students. Our program is supported by a full-time Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, as well as a team of psychiatric nurse practitioners and a consulting psychiatrist. Our nurses are experienced in medication administration, emergency first aid and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, and management of chronic medical conditions. We work closely with all our families to ensure that our students receive the most appropriate nursing and medical care for their unique individual needs and are equipped to manage medically fragile students including students with complex medical conditions. Our Health & Wellness team also works diligently to make sure that all our students can see local specialists sensitive to our student population and provide transportation and support for all off-campus appointments. Additionally, we are proud to partner with Sedgwick Pharmacy to help manage students’ medication needs.
To further enhance our comprehensive care, Shrub Oak employs a full-time nutritionist who works in the Health & Wellness department. The nutritionist collaborates with our health and wellness team and dining staff to ensure that our students receive balanced and nutritious meals that support their overall health and well-being.
Our entire health and wellness team is dedicated to the health and safety of every student at Shrub Oak International School and the Pines at Shrub Oak that goes well beyond the call of a traditional school nursing department.
Students at the Pines have their own dedicated, recently renovated, modern dining area. Meals are prepared in the Shrub Oak International School kitchen, which is managed by AVI Foodsystems, known for their innovative approach to food service and their commitment to excellence, in collaboration with our nutritionist and our chef. Understanding the unique sensory and dietary needs of autistic youth, we provide a variety of nutritious and delicious meal options that cater to the diverse preferences and requirements of our students. We are happy to accommodate specific dietary restrictions including gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, etc. Additionally, our campus is entirely nut-free. Our culinary team works closely with our staff nutritionist to ensure each meal supports the overall well-being and development of our students. This comprehensive approach ensures that every student enjoys a safe, satisfying, and healthful dining experience.
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