Lad Lake

Our research indicates that nearly all (92%) of Lad Lake youth in residential care have lived through multiple traumatic events. Many have lived through severe neglect. Some have been abused. Others witnessed violence. Nearly all experience psychological challenges. In fact, the vast majority (70%) of Lad Lake youth struggle with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and ptsd. Lad Lake's trauma-informed evidence-based programs and caring staff are a critical component to helping youth succeed. Lad Lake residents and students are able to heal in a safe and therapeutic environment and benefit from: strength-based approach, psychiatric services, specialized therapies including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (dbt), art and equine therapies, motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (met/cbt5), onsite staff trained in trauma-sensitive care utilizing the risking connections model and therapeutic groups helping youth develop skills to handle life's challenges including mindfulness practices, emotional regulation and dialectical behavioral therapy.

Through a community-based model, Lad Lake offers a variety of services including: in-home therapy, mentoring, supervised visitations and outpatient services to youth and families who have experienced crisis in their home life. Lad Lake helps youth with a range of needs including: emotional or developmental disabilities. Youth with alcohol or drug abuse dependencies, youth with mental health issues, youth with a history of truancy, youth with a history of familial problems, youth with a family member in prison and youth who have committed their first minor delinquent offense. Relying on a trauma-informed approach, Lad Lake staff provide services to families to promote healthy relationships and responsibility while encouraging families to work toward reunification. The programs are designed to work with youth and families toward healthier choices and supportive connections.

Lad Lake works to promote independent living and prevent youth homelessness by helping two groups of young adults most at risk: youth "aging out" of foster care and young adults with serious mental health conditions. Studies have shown that both of these groups of young adults are more likely to experience homelessness and live in poverty. Lad Lake's proven programs are designed to empower each young adult to reach his or her goals of becoming self-sufficient, successful and productive contributors in their community including: assistance with life skills development, housing, employment, secondary and post-secondary educational opportunities; peer support though bi-monthly events and daily drop-in center resources; and support to participate in the statewide youth advisory council geared toward improving the experiences of youth in foster care. We also understand that connecting youth to community resources is essential for ongoing success, so Lad Lake helps young adults with networking to assist with: healthcare, crisis intervention, transportation, legal assistance, parent education, family support and childcare options and activities supporting social, cultural, and religious observance.

Lad Lake offers a variety of specialized academic programs for youth at-risk of school failure. Lad Lake operates three schools in milwaukee and dousman with programs are specifically suited to meet the needs and challenges of each student. With a highly-individualized classroom environment, high teacher-to-child ratios, and onsite specialists and therapists, Lad Lake schools give students the greatest opportunity for success. Through its day schools and onsite schools at its two residential campuses, Lad Lake teachers help hundreds of kids with developmental and behavioral challenges succeed in school including: youth with developmental delays or behavioral disabilities, youth with alcohol or other drug dependencies, students with severe credit deficiencies, students at-risk of expulsion. For many of these youth, Lad Lake is their last hope at getting back on track academically. Lad Lake teachers offer individualized education plans for students, and are able to cater to their specialized needs. Through our educational programs, 76% of our youth increased their reading and math scores by 2 grade levels in one semester.