Recursos para padres
Recursos para padres
Parent Handbook:
To offer our Cadets the opportunity to develop the strength of character necessary to become successful, responsible citizens. LCA not only offers academics, it is a life skills program that uses a holistic approach to working with youth. We do this by providing a safe, drug-free environment, free from external distractions to allow for teaching, learning, and growth. Our mission is placement.
Reclaiming the lives of at-risk youth, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline to succeed as productive citizens.
For Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy (LCA) to operate effectively, we must maintain a consistent set of rules and regulations. Please DO NOT ask for exceptions to our policies unless in extreme circumstances.
1. STAY ENGAGED. Have family and friends send books, greeting cards, letters, and pictures to keep your Cadet motivated and ease any homesickness.
2. DO NOT WRITE negative information to your Cadet in the mail. The more positive reinforcement they receive at the Academy, the better their chances of success.
3. BE ON TIME when picking up and returning your Cadet to the Academy. We operate on a tight schedule and your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Do not make any unannounced visits. Your Cadet is involved in training and is often off campus on service to community projects and team missions.
4. DO NOT SEND cash, contraband in the mail, NOR PURCHASE contraband during passes. Packages deemed to contain contraband (items not allowed) are confiscated and mailed home at the Cadet’s expense. A Cadet in possession of contraband will lead to potential dismissal.
5. All official information concerning your Cadet will be sent from the staff at the Academy. Information regarding time schedules, locations, and directions will be confirmed with your Cadet’s Case Manager.
6. Cadets will make phone calls home on their designated day. When they do call, it is normal for them to want to leave. We have much better success when they are encouraged to stay.
7. Cadets tend to exaggerate their experiences at the Academy. We encourage you to call your Cadet Counselor to confirm information you may find questionable.
8. You will be contacted in the event of a serious illness, accident, or any serious disciplinary action. Repeated violations of rules may result in a strike level or possible dismissal. If your Cadet is placed on a strike level, they will lose off-campus privileges, including loss of pass privilege.
9. It is extremely important that we have a current address and telephone number on file for you as the parent/guardian of a Cadet at LCA. Please update us if you move or change your phone number.
10. Not all Cadets will obtain their Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate or complete all their Credit Recovery courses while at LCA. Our program offers much more than just education. Our mission is to produce a well-rounded young adult with a plan for the next year and the network to help them. Please encourage your youth to work with us and emphasize all aspects of the program to encourage them to stay until completion.
11. Ask your Cadet what goals they have set in their Life Plan. Be prepared to help them meet those goals.
12. At the end of the commencement exercise (graduation), your Cadet will need a ride back home. You are responsible for providing/coordinating such transportation.
Cadets who receive mail regularly have higher morale and tend to do better while at the Academy. We encourage family and friends to write letters or send cards often. Please address your Cadet’s letters/cards as follows:
Lincoln’s Challenge Academy
Cadet’s Name (Last, First)
212 W. Borman Drive
Rantoul, IL 61866
You can also send an email of motivation from family members via Cadet mail. Please limit this to immediate family members only. Remember to keep it positive and clean (no expletives or bad news). The web address is: https://www.lincolnschallenge.org/emailyourcadet.
NO INCOMING CALLS TO CADETS
If there is an emergency, a death in the immediate family (grandparent, father, mother, or sibling) or serious/terminal illness, please contact your Cadet’s team counselor for assistance.
*PLEASE, DO NOT tell the Cadet in a letter or during phone calls, information regarding death or any news that will upset the Cadet. This information should be shared with the Cadet in the presence of their advisor.
Transportation costs for all authorized passes, voluntary program departures, and dismissals are the parent/guardian’s responsibility. LCA Staff can assist with travel arrangements as needed.
Each Cadet is given a Cadet guide during the Acclimation Phase with standards, rules, and policies. They are tested on this material and keep this manual for the full 22 weeks.
If they are recommended for a Disciplinary Board, the parent/guardian on file will be contacted and informed of the reason the Cadet is going to the board, and the possible outcomes of the board.
Your child will be subject to random health and welfare checks to ensure the safety and security of all in the Academy. This will include random body checks with security wands if the Cadet was off-site, returning from a pass, or conducting unauthorized movement through the Academy. Any contraband found will result in appropriate disciplinary actions and potential dismissal from the program. If you have any questions, please address them to the Office of the Director.”
Vapes: If a Cadet is caught with a vape pen, they will lose all off-campus privileges for the remainder of the class, as well as be placed on a 10-day restriction and serve 1 session of MRP.
• If caught a 2nd time, this may result in separation from Lincoln’s Challenge Academy.
NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING THE RULES
A Cadet is only required to appear before the Disciplinary Board in the case of a serious infraction. The Director reviews the recommendation of the Disciplinary Board and any appeal by the Cadet before making the final determination. The Director’s decision is final.
LCA operates under a Hands-Off Leadership Policy. This policy means that no staff member may touch a Cadet or use abusive language as a means of coercive leadership. The staff is trained using Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention to protect Cadets and staff. When needing to adjust a uniform or touch a Cadet to teach a skill, the staff will ask the Cadet’s permission. This does not in any way infer that a staff member cannot defend themselves against an out-of-control Cadet, nor mean to interfere with any instances where a staff member may need to react physically and/or quickly to ensure the safety of the Cadets. This policy is explained to the Cadets on the day they arrive at the Academy.
LCA Medical Staff will provide for your Cadet’s medical needs. Medical Staff will examine a Cadet to determine if treatment can be done at LCA or if they will need to be seen at a convenient care/ER treatment location. If convenient care/ER is needed the parent/guardian will be notified. When necessary, the parent/guardian will be financially responsible for any payments to convenient care/ ER facility.
PRESCRIPTIONS & INSURANCE
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to keep their Cadet supplied with ongoing prescriptions. All over-the-counter medicine must arrive sealed; prescriptions must have current labels with the Cadet’s name, date filled, and number of refills available. Gummies are not allowed. All medications and Over the Counters (OTCs) must be mailed to the medical department, not to the Cadet. All OTCs not used by the end of the class cycle will be discarded. Parents/guardians are responsible for prescription copays. Prescriptions can be filled and picked up by medical staff as long as a method of payment is on file with the pharmacy. Pharmacies located in Rantoul are CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. If you mail your Cadet’s prescription or use a mail-order pharmacy, use the address:
Lincoln’s Challenge Academy
Attn: Medical Department
212 W. Borman Drive
Rantoul, IL 61866
The “Dear Doctor” letter that was given/emailed to you during the interview will help provide your Cadet with a 90-day prescription medication supply.
Please, provide an email so we may contact you with prescription refill information.
APPOINTMENTS
NO OVERNIGHT OR MULTIDAY PASSES WILL BE AUTHORIZED. Cadets are required to be at the Academy for a minimum of 147 days during the 5-month Residential Phase. Due to this, routine appointments should be scheduled to be done during the pass or after the 5 months. No overnight passes can be granted, all non-emergency medical appointments are subject to approval by the Office of the Director, only.
Please do not schedule any doctor or dental appointments without first consulting with our medical staff. We have a procedure in place for appointments. An email must be received by the Medical Department 5-7 days before the appointment with the details and information.
Passes will not be issued for routine physicals (a physical is given to each Cadet within two days of their arrival at LCA), dental checkups, or eye exams. These exams should be scheduled before entrance into LCA, or they may be scheduled during Corp Pass. LCA will transport or coordinate with the parent/guardian if assistance/transportation is necessary.
Please feel free to contact the Medical Department if you have any questions at: Norma.Schmidt@illinois.gov or at 217-892-1318.
For emergencies, call 217-891-1304 from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Write your Cadet often with encouragement and positive news from the home front. Be positive and encouraging during their phone calls home. They need to know that they are significant, have a belonging, and are not replaceable in the family.
Statements you can use to motivate your Cadet:
1) It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for working toward a dream. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
2) The more you quit, the more you risk making quitting a habit.
3) Most things aren’t impossible; most people just give up too soon.
4) Just decide that you’re not going to quit. No matter what. Period. End of Story.
UPON RETURN HOME
“Support The Positive Change in Your Youth.”
They need to believe that they are good at something and are gaining mastery over something in their life. Holding a job, sport, and strengthening a talent or hobby are all positive forward steps.
They need to believe they contribute to their family, community, and society. Volunteering, helping at church, helping take care of elderly family members, planting trees, or helping younger kids learn to read are ways to contribute.
They need to believe they have some level of control over their life, can make some decisions, are somewhat independent, and can be themselves.
Our youth are always watching. They watch us thank others, hold doors open, put money in the Salvation Army bucket, and care for the elderly or sick neighbors. They also watch us grip the steering wheel in traffic, gossip, complain, and blame. They watch how we handle making mistakes.
“Don’t Let the Momentum Die. Encourage Them and Reinforce Good Habits.”
Work alongside these youth as they follow leads on jobs, sign up for college classes, talk to a military recruiter, or set up times to talk to an organization about volunteering. These youth will mature through the program and can do many things on their own; however, they have a better chance of following through with their goals when they know someone is next to them, encouraging, motivating, and supporting them. We all need a person in our corner when we are stretching ourselves.
Join forces with your youth to continue the good habits they have developed, such as eating healthier, drinking more water, exercising, and giving up any bad habits such as smoking/vaping, drug, and alcohol use.
Call the Cadet’s Case Manager whenever you have questions and every month after they graduate from the Residential Phase of the program. Once a family member of LCA, always a family member!
Immediately after the Acclimation Phase, all Cadets will
attend GED or High School Diploma/Credit Recovery path classes. We have increased the time the Cadets will be in GED classes. Please do not schedule any appointments without consulting the Medical Department.
The Credit Recovery path provides the opportunity for Cadets to either recover credits for classes that they received no credit for in the past or to continue with their credit earning while in the Residential Phase. The Credit Recovery path focuses on Math, Reading, Language Arts, Science, and Social Sciences. Additional credits can be recovered/earned in Physical Education, Vocational Courses, Choir, Percussion, Military Prep, Health and Hygiene, Nutrition, and Drivers Education.
All assignments in the Credit Recovery path must be completed and turned in for grade. Failure to return assigned work will result in failing the class. You earn your grade.
If a Cadet is failing a Credit Recovery class by the end of week 18, they will lose off-campus privileges until a passing grade is achieved, be placed on a 10-day restriction, and serve 1 session of MRP.
The Cadets are the owners of their GED scores. We are not allowed to give those scores over the phone or in person, without the Cadet’s written permission. Information on how to access their GED account, scores, and diploma will be given to them at Commencement (graduation).
The FAFSA is required to obtain a High School Diploma in Illinois. Therefore, parents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov.
Unauthorized use and downloads from websites are prohibited on any Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy computer (whether Chromebook or GED lab). Any Candidate/Cadet in violations is subject to disciplinary actions and/or dismissal from the Academy.
All Cadets must have a “recruited” Mentor before attending day one of Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy. Prospective Mentors must complete a screening process and attend training at the LCA Campus to be matched with Cadets.
All Mentors must schedule to attend Mentor Training.
Mentors will RSVP to the Mentor Coordinator after receiving the introductory letter regarding training session dates, times, and locations to confirm attendance. Mentors need all to attend one training date.
While in the Residential Phase, your Cadets will develop a Life Plan to guide them in their Post-Residential Phase. To be considered positively placed, a Cadet must have 25 hours of weekly placement, which can include re-enrolling in high school, continuing to community college or trade school, joining the military, finding a job, and/or volunteer work. As the Cadets approach commencement (graduation), be prepared to assist them in meeting these goals, as Cadets often need parents/guardians to help them in filling out financial aid documents, picking up college, job, and/or volunteer applications. Please help them find success as they enter their next phase in life.
The Registrar’s Office is tasked with maintaining all Cadet official files. The Registrar’s Office is also responsible for the control and distribution of incoming and outgoing mail to and from Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy.
Jostens
Jessica Hageman
P O Box 356
Effingham, IL 62401
217-531-7832
jessica.hageman.office@jostens.com
Please call or email for pricing information.
Class rings can also be ordered by calling the number or email above.
The final date to secure ring delivery by graduation will be announced.
You will receive notification through the mail concerning transportation to and from the Academy 2-3 weeks before the Corps Pass. All Cadets are required to leave LCA on Corps Pass.
If your Cadet arrives at the Academy on day one by bus or van, they will depart for Corps Pass by bus or van, unless otherwise coordinated with the Case Managers. Your Cadet will ride the return bus or van from the same location where they were dropped off.
Those Cadets who arrived by privately owned vehicles at the Academy will need to be picked up by a person listed on the Pass Sign-out Authorization Form. Please contact your Cadet’s case Managers with any questions or concerns. Returning late will result in disciplinary actions.
Corp passes are scheduled during Easter and Thanksgiving holidays for the corresponding class and Cadets are allowed to go to their place of residency. All other off-campus passes are granted for medical reasons only. We DO NOT grant passes for birthdays, baby’s birth, weddings, or any other celebrations. A family can get authorization for a 2-hour on-campus birthday pass for the Cadet if the Cadet has 25 or more merits. Off-campus funeral passes, for that day, may be granted for immediate family members – parents/guardians, or siblings for 8 hours including travel time.
Drug Testing of Cadets will be conducted randomly throughout the class.
If your Cadet tests positive, they will be released from the Academy. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to make arrangements for transportation home.
Additionally, Cadets will be randomly tested after family days and unsupervised off-campus events (mentor pass, medical appointments, etc.) where no LCA staff were present and supervising.
NO EXCEPTIONS OR APPEALS!!!
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE PROGRAM