Education Services
The Sanctuary© Model of treatment defines the basic principles of all BVS Schools and relationships with students: encouraging a community that is safe, democratic and productive. Within this environment, education staff instill in their students confidence and skills in the areas of independence, mastery, generosity and belonging.
Early Care and Education Programs
These New York State-certified programs focus on the child as an individual, promoting growth and development in a caring educational environment.
Early Childhood Peer Program
Integrated preschool classes serve children ages 3-5 in an extended day program operating on the school calendar, along with a 6-week summer program.
Monarch Little Learners Academy
Monarch serves children from birth to age 5 in daycare and preschool classroom settings. Before- and after-school programs for children through age 12 are also available.
Early Intervention & Preschool Special Education
Assistance for children from birth to age 5 is provided through county Early Intervention referrals for ages 0-3, or a local school district Committee on Special Education (CPSE), ages 3-5.
ChildPro & Early Childhood Program (ECP)
These programs focus on early learning and enhancing self-concept in classrooms and homes throughout Western New York. Early Intervention is provided by both programs to assist children from birth to age 3 with suspected developmental delays. Staff work to identify potential developmental delays and disabilities while testing motor skills, cognition, speech, language, social interaction, emotional responses and hearing. An individualized and comprehensive treatment program is then implemented. Care can include speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and family education. Services can be provided in integrated preschool or home settings. Counseling and training are also available to assist parents in better caring for their child.
Additionally, both the ChildPro and Early Childhood Programs collaborate with preschool programs throughout the City of Buffalo and the surrounding areas.
School Age Special Education
Children may access these programs through the recommendation of their local school districts’ Committee on Special Education, or through residential services at Baker Victory Services.
Baker Academy - Cheektowaga
Opened in 2002, Baker Academy is primarily comprised of students from Buffalo Public Schools. The academy offers structured educational services in a 6:1:1 (student/teacher/aide ratio) classroom setting to children and youth, ages 5 to 21, who experience serious emotional or behavioral challenges.
Baker Hall School - Lackawanna
Baker Hall School (BHS) serves students from the Behavioral/Mental Health Residential Services at BVS, as well as students from local school districts in need of a highly-specialized, structured learning environment. BHS serves students between the ages of 11 and 21 who may experience emotional/behavioral challenges, be diagnosed with a mental illness, or have a mild developmental delay. BHS features student/teacher/aide ratios of 8:1:1 and 12:1:3, and offers departmentalized classes for eligible high-school level students. In addition, students can participate in pre-vocational learning through the Work Appreciation for Youth (WAY) Program.
The WAY Program
The Work Appreciation for Youth (WAY) Program was designed to help at-risk youth and young adults not only realize the value of education and work, but develop the skills they need to get a job and keep it. The WAY Program operates several worksites which help students build job skills that can be transferred into an employment setting. WAY provides a comprehensive, individualized program offering tutoring, job counseling, job readiness training, crisis intervention, life-skills workshops, and career exploration. In some cases, counseling for up to 5 years after discharge is available.
Most of all, WAY offers youth a chance at something they deserve — a positive future!
Specialized Therapies
The Tomatis Center
BVS is home to the only certified Tomatis Center in the region. The Tomatis Method is an auditory stimulation program used to help individuals with disabilities including, but not limited to, Autism, PDD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder, learning disabilities, developmental delays, auditory processing problems, and speech and language difficulties. Tomatis can help both children and adults with listening, balance, coordination, sensory integration, self-awareness, fine motor skills, attention, eye contact, organizational skills, social skills, speech and communication.