Community Service Learning
Chaddock's Citizenship Program gives students an opportunity to extend the caring process beyond the residential campus to those who have needs in the community and beyond.

Volunteers learn that all persons are valuable and that we function as an interdependent society. Students gain increased sensitivity to the needs of the elderly, hungry, disabled, the very young and those experiencing emergency or crisis situations.

Involvement in the Citizenship Volunteers Program enhances the self-esteem of Chaddock students by allowing them to gain competence through service in the community.

The citizenship process includes preparation, the actual project and follow-up. Preparation involves motivating and educating students about a specific project. The project may be delivering groceries to the elderly, constructing a wheelchair ramp for a handicapped individual, visiting a local nursing center, exercising animals at a community animal shelter, or assisting in activities for pre-schoolers, and other projects as needed by the community.

Follow-up focuses on the integration of the experience into each student's individual treatment program. Key skills students may gain through the projects include: interpersonal relationship skills, self-esteem, self-expression, self-control, communication skills, problem solving skills, personal responsibility, awareness of community needs, sense of empowerment, academic and vocational skills, assertiveness, respect for self and others, and work ethics.