Family Involvement

Parents and family members are considered partners in planning each student's placement and Individualized Service Plan, working closely with staff to ensure the best possible initial adjustment – for everyone in the family.

Later, as the time approaches for a student to leave Timber Ridge School, family visits are increased to help pave the way for smooth transitions back to home, school, and work. We consider it one of our foremost responsibilities to maintain and strengthen family, sibling, and community relationships.

Parent Support Groups are held both at the school and in communities. During these groups, our staff and families learn from each other, as we share typical challenges and discuss parenting training.

Our monthly "Parent to Parent" sessions about parenting skills are now held throughout geographical areas convenient for parents to attend. Specific locations and dates can be found in the Family Calendar. For information about starting groups in other areas, please call Kevin Kennedy at 540-888-3456, extension 1175.

“I found the parent support groups beneficial and reassuring. It was important to know we were not alone and there were other parents in similar situations. We needed that reassurance that we were not bad parents and that our son needed help we couldn't provide.” — Parent

Through our Character Education curriculum, we teach important values that our students are often lacking, such as compassion, dependability, honesty, justice, kindness, perseverance, respect, and responsibility. Each month we explore a different value, using an article or video as a teaching tool. We encourage families to share their thoughts about these issues with their sons.

To view the current Character Education theme of the month, click here. If you have questions about these sessions or would like copies, please contact Kevin Kennedy, L.C.S.W., Coordinator of Family Services, at 540-888-3456, extension 1175.