The ROOTS Program is an IPS therapeutic day treatment program in a school setting.

Our Mission

The ROOTS program provides a range of high-quality, individualized therapeutic and academic supports in a safe and nurturing environment that helps students develop the foundations for success in school.

Our Vision

We will grow the ROOTS of hope, trust, independence, and self-control in the students we serve.

Contact

3200 E. Raymond St.
(Door 5)
Indianapolis, IN 46203
P: 317-226-2953
F: 317-226-4040

Hours

Students: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
Monday-Friday

Staff: 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

We serve IPS students who are struggling to succeed in school due to challenges related to not regulating emotions, behavior and/or mental health.

These students are typically referred to us through a process that, in the best of circumstances, has already included school-based interventions, data collection and reflection.

We also serve students who are “emergency” placed and move-in students who come with IEPs suggesting the need for this type of intensive programming.

We serve students who are being discharged from a more restrictive settings, but are not yet ready for a less restrictive setting.

The ROOTS Program offers a multi-disciplinary treatment approach including:

  • Collaboration between medical/mental health and education
  • Low student/teacher ratio
  • Strength-based focus
  • Therapy and skill building
  • Family supports and services
  • Crisis intervention
  • Music and art with a therapeutic slant
  • Yoga and mindfulness

Students with emotional and behavioral challenges have much poorer outcomes in nearly all measures. They are at much greater risk of school failure, truancy, dropping out, addictions, suicide, teenage pregnancy, criminal activity and incarceration. Adulthood outcomes look equally bleak.

The United States has only 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of its’ prisoners. A great majority of our US prisoners are poor, uneducated people of color, and more than half of whom suffer from mental health problems.

Zero-tolerance policies in schools contribute to the above statistics.

We serve to improve both the outcomes of individual’s and our community at large.

We teach the academic standards while growing these critical foundational skills; the roots. (Many of which are often damaged or depleted in our students.)

  • Hope- the opposite of despair, doubt or pessimism
  • Trust- the opposite of mistrust, doubt or fear
  • Independence- the opposite of helplessness, dependence or vulnerability
  • Self-Control- the opposite of obedience, greed or unrestraint

The ROOTS Program is a blend of these two models which allows us to embed significant mental health into the fabric of “school”.

Day Treatment:

  • Medical model for individuals who with mental, emotional and/additive disorders who do not require 24 hour inpatient care.
  • Primarily focuses on individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy in a hospital setting.
  • Psychiatric care and medication management.

Traditional School Setting:

  • Teacher-centered delivery of instruction with the primary goal being mastery of academic learning.
  • Behavior and emotions are addressed only as needed and typically through punishment.
  • SEL, counseling and mental health support is provided only if the school recognizes their value and has the resources.

District Calendar

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re interested in exploring what the ROOTS Program has to offer, please email the following individuals:

  • hamelsms@myips.org
  • andersoa@myips.org
  • rutowskit@myips.org

Please include the following in your message:

  • Your Name
  • Phone Number
  • Email
  • Student ID (If Known)
  • Previous/Current School
  • Message on how we can assist you

Title IX Reporting

Complaints or reports alleging sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, or gender discrimination, including sexual orientation or gender identity, involving an IPS student,  employee, or person affiliated with IPS should be immediately reported to the Title IX Coordinator at TitleIXCoordinator@myips.org.

Complaints or reports may be made anonymously but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report.