In the 1960s, the philosophy of social services changed.

Across the United States, it became widely recognized that large-scale institutional living, like orphanages, were not ideal for the care of children and clients. This shift resulted in the creation of smaller, group care homes. To continue providing effective and extraordinary care, Children’s Home of York began exploring alternative options. In 1969, Children’s Home opened its first group home, and in the early 1970s, ceased the operation of its orphanage to favor the residential program model. 

Today, Children’s Home operates three residential programs. We invite you to explore these different options and reach out if they might fit your needs.

SOAR is a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF), serving clients between the ages of 13 to 18. The program implements Sanctuary® principles and equips clients with the skills they need to function as positive, productive citizens – in the family, workplace, and community. SOAR utilizes Trust Based Relational Intervention to promote the healing of relationships and improve the client’s capacity for trust and safety, all while healing past trauma.

Clients are provided with 24-hour support and supervision, utilizing a strengths-based perspective that includes opportunities of self-esteem development, relationship building, learning, and practicing appropriate coping mechanisms. Upon admission, an age-appropriate plan of care is developed, including short and long-term goals. This plan is used as an outline for the client’s treatment process, as well the intent for family involvement and support through the process.

Each client participates in a variety of therapeutic approaches, including dialectical behavior, affect, expressive, pet, and more. Additionally, the client will learn life skills such as social skills, cultural awareness, self-esteem, drug and alcohol awareness, money management, cooking, and more. An on-site academic curriculum is provided in partnership with the Lincoln Intermediate Unit number 12.

The A.N.G.E.L. Center hosts the state-of-the-art Snoezelen® Room.

A Snoezelen® Room is a multi-sensory environment equipped with a variety of sensory equipment and materials that help clients refine their responses to sensory input. Users are able to customize the experience for themselves and their needs, and then save their profile for use later. While the room is located in the A.N.G.E.L. Center, it is open for any client to use.

You can accompany us in the video below for a walk through of the room.

Admission Criteria

• Referred clients must have the mental and physical ability to benefit from the assessment, curriculum, and interventions offered.
• Clients referred must be willing to participate in activities that will allow them to return to a less restrictive setting, and be able to function in a highly structured community-based setting.
• Based on records, less-intensive residential care has been deemed insufficient to prevent clinical deterioration and/or stabilize the client’s behavior.
• Admission and the provision of services are made without the regard to race, color, religion, sexual identity or orientation.

The RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Experience) Program is a community-based, Sanctuary® informed, specialized Independent-Living-Skills group home. RISE is approved to provide services to up to 2 clients at the day of placement but can continue to provide services up to age 21 once admitted.

RISE is a program for clients who require individualized supervision due to their history of struggling to succeed in other residential settings and/or other lower levels of care. The program is designed to provide specialized Independent Living services and prepare the clients to either successfully live on their own as socially responsible of the community, or to return to their families.

In this specialized setting, the clients have the opportunity to learn and practice their independent living skills. Level based privileges allow the clients to practice skills and demonstrate responsibility and accountability in a community setting while supervised by program team members.

Following a Casey Life Skills Assessment, individual service plans are developed with all clients – the process of planning begins at the time of referral and is continually updated throughout the resident’s placement. The process of developing and achieving the goals on the plan is driven by the resident with the support of the program’s team members and all other providers involved in the resident’s life.

Clients have access to treatment support and prevention services offered in collaboration with community providers.

• Referred clients must have the mental and physical ability to benefit from the assessment, milieu, and interventions offered.
• Clients referred must be willing to participate in the independent living skill instruction process, participate in the age-appropriate curriculum, and be able to function in a structured, community-based setting. 
• Those who are actively psychotic, have active suicidal ideation, or those who have a recent history of arson may not be appropriate for admission.

Referred individuals must have County CYF involvement.

Admission and the provision of services are made without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or sexual orientation.

George Street is a community-based program that serves dependent and delinquent males ages 15 to 21. The program implements Sanctuary® principles and equips clients with the skills they need to function as socially responsible citizens – in the family, workplace, and community. Clients learn about accountability, responsibility and make plans for their future.

Following a Casey Life Skills Assessment, individual service plans are developed for all clients – the process begins at the time of referral and is continually updated throughout the client’s placement. Upon entry to the program, age-appropriate, short, and long-term goals for the client, community supports, and plan of care are developed. The plan is used as an outline and details the client’s goals and strategies, as well as addresses a plan for family involvement and support.

Each client participates in an individualized independent living curriculum focused on instruction, positive therapeutic mediations, and real-life experiences. Clients work on developing pro-social, anger management, and conflict resolution skills. Additionally, clients learn basic skills such as cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry, as well as key independent living skills like completing job applications, interviewing, maintaining employment, money, and time management, utilizing public transportation, and meeting housing needs. Clients also have access to treatment support and prevention services.

Admission criteria 

• Referred clients must have the mental and physical ability to benefit from the assessment, curriculum, and interventions offered.
• Clients referred must be willing to participate in the independent living skill instruction process, participate in an age-appropriate curriculum, and be able to function in a structured, community-based setting.
• Those who have successfully completed other treatment programs but are not yet ready for family reunification also are considered for admission.
• Those who are actively psychotic, have suicidal ideation, or those who have recent history of arson may not be appropriate for referral.

Referred individuals must have County CYF or JPO involvement.

Admission and the provision of services are made without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or sexual orientation.

For more information or referrals: 

georgestreet@choyork.org

717-846-8226 or 717-846-8227