Is H.A.V.E.N. Academy a private school?
H. A.V.E.N. Academy is not a private school. It is a Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports (GNETS) program serving students with severe behaviors. Students are referred to the program from Cobb County Schools, Marietta City Schools, and Douglas County Schools. Students who require more intensive behavioral programming for successful outcomes are referred to the program. Placement in the H.A.V.E.N. program is determined by an IEP team.
Where is H.A.V.E.N. located?
H.A.V.E.N. Academy includes one campus-based program at H.A.V.E.N. Academy at Sky View in Mableton, Georgia. There are multiple satellite classes located in schools within Cobb County that are staffed and supervised by H.A.V.E.N. Douglas County has eleven H.A.V.E.N. classes located at Mason Creek Elementary, Mason Creek Middle and Alexander High School.
What type of student does H.A.V.E.N. serve?
H.A.V.E.N. serves students who have severe emotional/behavioral concerns. Some students have eligibilities in the area of autism, intellectual disabilities or emotional/behavioral disorders. Despite the eligibility, all students must have severe emotional/behavior difficulties.
What interventions are implemented?
H.A.V.E.N. implements therapeutic interventions which are cognitive and behavioral in nature. Students are taught to replace their maladaptive behaviors with prosocial behaviors. They are also taught skills that will generalize in multiple settings. Progress meetings are scheduled frequently to readjust based upon the needs of the student.
Who needs to attend the referral IEP Meeting?
Since H.A.V.E.N. is a program within the Georgia Network of Education and Therapeutic Supports (GNETS), a H.A.V.E.N. representative must be present at an IEP meeting prior to a student being placed at H.A.V.E.N. Also, the required IEP members that must also attend are the local educational agency, general education teacher, special education teacher, related support if applicable, and evaluator.
What are the procedures to return a student to his/her home school?
Students will have specific exit criteria within their IEP that will outline the specific criteria for returning to the home school. It will include behavioral expectations that are unique to the individual student and related to the referring behaviors.
What is the timeframe for a student to remain in the H.A.V.E.N. program?
The decision for students to return to his/her home school is based upon behavioral data and not a specific time frame. This means that once the student meets the exit criteria as outlined in the child’s IEP, then an IEP is held to discuss the student exiting the H.A.V.E.N. program.
Is your instructional focus solely behavioral?
Behavior and academics are the focus at H.A.V.E.N. The teachers are charged with instructing students academically based upon Georgia educational standards. Behavioral teaching is a focus of instruction. H.A.V.E.N. staff is trained to teach replacement skills to students to improve their pro-social behavioral repertoire.
What are the steps for enrolling my child from another state into your program?
If your child attended a program that is reflective of the H.A.V.E.N. program, then your child may be able to enroll at H.A.V.E.N. The first step is to go to your child’s home school and speak to the special education representative. They will review your child’s IEP services and possibly contact the school to obtain more information about the school/program. If the home school determines that your child’s former school was a separate day school or program, then they will contact a H.A.V.E.N. representative. An IEP meeting will be scheduled and an IEP team will determine placement. An IEP meeting will take place within 10 days after enrollment.
What are the steps for enrolling my child into H.A.V.E.N. from another school district in Georgia?
If your child was in a GNETS facility, then your child will be served at H.A.V.E.N. You must first go to your child’s home school and they will contact a H.A.V.E.N. representative and arrange for you to register your child.
What is the exit criteria for leaving H.A.V.E.N. based upon?
The IEP will have specific exit criteria outlining what the student must achieve before returning to the home school. H.A.V.E.N. will contact the home school and provide information to them. In some instances, the home school may observe the child while still at H.A.V.E.N. , they may attend a treatment team meeting prior to exiting H.A.V.E.N. to participate in updating the Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), and/or the student may attend the home school for part of the school day to “practice” their social skills in a generalized setting.
What are the steps for enrolling my child with autism in your school?
Home schools refer a student to H.A.V.E.N. once they have implemented supports over time and determined that the student may require additional therapeutic supports to help them make progress.
What are the steps for enrolling my child who currently attends another Cobb County School and is not doing well behaviorally?
Home schools refer a student to H.A.V.E.N. once they have implemented supports over time and determine that the student may require additional therapeutic supports to help them make progress.
