Wediko Children's Services

School Type: Residential

Founded: 1989

Ages/Grades: 10-18 yrs old

School Setting: New England campus

School Size: 47

Classroom Size: 6-10

Student/Teacher Ratio: 6/1

Support Services: 3:1 child to staff ratio, 8:1 clinician to staff ratio, learner-centered special education school, daily group therapy, weekly family therapy, milieu therapy, career education, cognitive-behavioral contracts, group behavior checklists, psychiatric consultation, consistent & predictable delivery of feedback

Camp Programs: Yes

Mission Statement: Wediko Children’s Services is a non-profit organization committed to improving children’s lives. Using a strength-based approach, Wediko responds to the needs of children who face repeated obstacles to development due to emotional, behavioral, environmental, and learning issues. Through a continuum of flexible services and multi-disciplinary training programs, Wediko develops enduring partnerships with children, families, schools, and the community. Wediko strives to capture success and restore a sense of competence and hope.

Philosophy/Belief Statement:

Located on a 450-acre lakefront campus in southern New Hampshire, Wediko utilizes multi-disciplinary teams, individualized treatment plans, and a strength-based, family-centered approach to designing treatment interventions. Wediko maximizes the therapeutic treatment by building collaborative relationships with each student’s family, school, and outside agencies. Wediko is committed to returning the child to his home and community as soon as possible. Wediko’s skills-based, experiential educational curriculum and therapeutic milieu builds competencies, captures successes, and restores hope in children with pervasive histories of failure, frustration, and fractured attempts at success.

School History: : Dr. Robert A. Young began Wediko’s operations in 1934 with the Wediko New Hampshire Summer Program and continued to direct the program until 1971. In 1972, Dr. Young turned the directorship of the program over to Hugh M. Leichtman, Ph.D., who provided clinical and administrative leadership until his death in 2001. In 1965, Dr. Young hired Harry W. Parad, Ph.D. as an activity counselor. Dr. Parad has served Wediko during most of the intervening 40 years, becoming Clinical Director in 1983 and Executive Director in 2001. The Wediko School & Treatment Program was established in 1989 and is located on the same campus as the New Hampshire Summer Program.

Notes/School Information:

We also operate an intensive 45-day therapeutic residential summer program for boys and girls ages 7-18. For information on this program, please contact a Summer Program Coordinator at (617)292-9200.