Helix Human Services

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SHARP Residential Program

The SHARP Residential Program supports youth who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community. This specialty residential program supports youth who have experienced trauma, with moderate to severe mental health and behavioral health challenges and may be struggling with their personal identity.

Western MA | Serving: LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13 – 17
Contact: Robert Shields, Program Manager
t: 413.739.5626 ext. 231 | f: 413.327.4080 | e: RShields@helixhumanservices.org
Ama Bortsie, Director of Children and Family Services
e: ABortsie@helixhumanservices.org

SHARP promotes the improvement of self-esteem, life skills, adult readiness skills, a sense of personal identity, emotional regulation skills, the development of healthy coping skills and interpersonal relationship strategies. Our goal is for our residents to leave our program with the skills necessary to find success within the community.  

Upon referral by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Helix conducts interviews and team meetings to determine if SHARP would be a good fit for the prospective client. Upon intake, SHARP focuses on establishing support, safety, and comfortability within the program by promoting the rules and boundaries, as well as building rapport with the client.

Helix Human Services exudes a Trauma Informed Care approach and SHARP utilizes these foundational practices day in and day out. SHARP utilizes several evidence-based treatment approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These approaches provide the clients with person-centered treatment heavily focused on the development of skills in the areas of mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, healthy coping skills, personal identity, and life skills. We provide DBT skills groups, psychoeducational groups, Occupational Therapy, individual, and family therapy, as well as clinical case management. 

SHARP specialty program places the client first with a highly therapeutic approach; never punitive. We focus on healing, with continual evaluation and refinement of treatment goals and objectives to meet the needs of individual clients.

Our SHARP Program residents:

  • Receive an individual treatment plan developed by the multidisciplinary treatment team that outlines the specific needs, goals, and objectives to be accomplished during their stay. 
  • Have access to a variety of therapeutic and psychoeducational groups that are tailored to meet their individual needs.
  • Benefit from the development of life and social skills through a variety of recreational activities on site and in the community.

After over two decades, I continue to learn and grow from the youth, families, and coworkers I am privileged to work with.

Erin D., FAMS Program Manager