Children's Aid and Family Services offers community-based group homes for children and youth with behavioral and/or emotional disorders.
Our Group Homes Program is governed by a primary desire to meet each resident's physical, emotional, behavioral, social, educational, and cultural needs. We believe that:
- All children have the right to live in a safe and nurturing environment.
- All children have the right to quality care in the least restrictive, most normalized setting possible.
- Children can heal from past trauma, learn to trust others, learn to respect themselves and change their behavior, when provided appropriate care and treatment. A key element for positive change is the relationship between the child and his/her primary caregivers.
- Children who have experienced trauma and loss need assistance from caring adults to heal from their physical and emotional injuries.
- Children need structure, consistency, and learning opportunities in order to achieve their potential.
- Children learn best from primary caregivers who are nurturing, consistent, and able to provide structure and establish appropriate limits.
- Positive adult role models can have significant impact on children's development.
- Services to children should be individualized, child-centered and strengths-based.
- All children deserve to be treated with respect for their privacy, individuality and heritage.
- Children are best served when they are prepared for their futures and learn skills, which will enable them to be competent, productive, independent adults.
- Children have the right to participate in decision-making about their care and treatment, to be kept informed of their treatment and permanency plan, and to voice opinions and grievances.
- Children have the right to agree with or refuse medication and have the right to refuse to participate in clinical studies or research.
In order to meet the needs of children in an appropriate manner CAFS offers two different types of settings which are staffed by dedicated, caring professionals. The Adolescent Group Homes Program provides safe, nurturing, therapeutic environments for adolescents who have experienced significant disruptions in their lives as a result of neglect, abuse, or other family problems. Our Path Program strives to provide a controlled, therapeutic environment for children under 12 years of age who have serious attachment and victimization issues and consequently require specialized care in a more structured setting.
Children's Aid and Family Services operates three group homes for adolescents (Eastlea, Woodlea and Children's Haven) that provide care for up to 10 adolescents in each community-based home. The youth attend public schools, volunteer and work in the community, and participate in community recreational, cultural and religious activities.
Path homes provide small group, community-based care for up to eight children 4 to 12 year old. The children participate in local recreational, social, and religious activities.
Treatment in all CAFS group homes is provided by an interdisciplinary team, which includes all youth counselors, a therapist, case manager, psychiatrist, psychiatric and pediatric nurses, and administrative and supervisory personnel. Education professionals are also available as needed.
We are proud of the comprehensive care we offer to children in need and we take pride in seeing the children mature and grow into young adults who are prepared to work toward achieving their goals and live successful, independent lives.
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