CARE Residential Program
CARE Residential Program
What is Residential?
There are times when maintaining a youth within a home setting is not possible. Children and adolescents who have experienced trauma can often have difficulty managing their emotions which can sometimes lead to unsafe behavior. When these issues are present, youth are often referred to a residential program where they receive constant supervision and individualized treatment to address their symptoms and build their capacity for growth and essential life skills.
What is the Purpose of this program?
The CARE Residential Program uses a trauma-informed approach to help youth heal from past trauma and increase their capacity to engage in healthy, trusting relationships with adults and caregivers. Clients are provided with a safe, structured environment and individualized treatment to help them gain important life skills. They learn to deal with their emotions in a healthy way and increase their motivation to engage in positive decision making. The CARE Residential Program builds on youth strengths and provide opportunities to increase their competencies.
What is Special About this Program Compared to Other Residential Programs?
The CARE Residential Program utilizes an evidenced-based program called the CARE model. Cornell University’s Children and Residential Experiences (CARE): Creating Conditions for Change is designed to support safe environments, strong programmatic elements and a wide-variety of treatment programs and interventions that are trauma-sensitive and developmentally appropriate. The CARE model focuses on engaging youth in treatment by building relationships and connections, and building their individual strengths.
One of the core challenges for residential group care organizations is to achieve congruence throughout the agency in serving the best interests of the children who reside there. There are always competing interests including resources, children’s needs, staff’s needs, regulations, and placing agencies’ needs. One Hope United (OHU) providing an environment in which children can thrive is dependent on the quality of the milieu and the interactions among the adults and children who live, work and play there.
Eligibility Requirements
The CARE program is for boys ages 9–18 who are referred to OHU by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
