The Group Home Residential Programs at The Children’s Home supplies basic needs for each youth resident plus the resources and support needed for the individual to thrive. The program emphasizes life skills – social, academic, and vocational – through a variety of experiences, activities, and opportunities. Residents admitted into these programs are located in VR, JR and FM cottages, plus the extended living program – Successful Starts.
Services supplied by The Children’s Home include housing, transportation, dietary, and personal care needs. All residents live in a home-like residential environment complete with bed, bath, storage, and laundry facilities in each cottage. Staff members assist residents in obtaining clothing, shoes, and grooming supplies along with supervision on caring for themselves and their belongings. Personal hygiene is monitored to insure residents learn the basic expectations of grooming.
Treatment is available for behavioral or trauma-related disorders. Services provided by The Children’s Home include medication assessment, individual psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluation, group psychotherapy, recreation therapy, milieu therapy, psychological testing, and family-centered programming. Academic services include special education, classroom instruction, academic testing, life skills programs, sex education/STD/HIV instruction, and drug & alcohol education.
Meals are provided for the residents by a professional dietary staff from a commercial-quality, health department certified kitchen with consultation from a certified dietician. The dietary staff members are Serve Safe certified. Staff monitors the choices each resident makes for nutritional content. The residents have an afternoon snack, generally a variety of items from fruit to graham crackers.
Of primary importance to the programs of The Children’s Home is education. All residents are encouraged and empowered to reach a goal of high scholastic achievement. Daily school attendance is required and included as an indicator in the behavior modification system. The Home provides a reading specialist who tests and tutors residents. Every cottage, as well as the Administration Building, has a computer lab. Residents have access to a computer for word processing, research, and graphic arts. The use of the computers and access to the internet are carefully monitored.
Recreation programs are seasonal, emphasizing outdoor sports and activities during pleasant weather and indoor sports and activities during inclement weather. The Home offers basketball, softball, volleyball, swimming, horseback riding, and dance. All sports and activities focus on fitness, skills, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. All residents are encouraged to participate.
Throughout the year the Home provides cultural experiences for its residents to broaden their exposure to different cultures and ideas. Cultural programs are provided on-campus and on field trips throughout the Maryland / Washington DC area. The residents have access to art programs especially designed to engage them in productive expression, teamwork, and entrepreneurship.
How you can help
The Children’s Home accepts donations of new, unopened board and card games designed for youth ages 13-19. In addition, sporting equipment — such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, etc. — are always in demand. Items can be dropped off at Building C on our campus, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm.
Can you help a student with his/her homework? Are you a really great gardener? Do you love to paint? Can you share your love of crocheting? Volunteer instructors, mentors and tutors are needed to lead sports, arts and academic activities year-round, especially in the evenings and on weekends.
Your monetary donation can go a long way to offering essential programs and services to youth from across Maryland and Washington, DC. A donation of $100 will purchase school supplies for one student, while your donation of $500 will provide a student with the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities.
