 EA's
6-bed Group Home Program is for children who are able are able to function in a community setting, but do not function well in a foster home. These structured facilities are family homes in many ways. The principal operators own, and live in the group home.
Although each facility has its own style and program, we expect each to accommodate specific directives and wishes of placement workers.
Each of our ten homes operates within a prescribed framework of policies and procedures. For example, each home is monitored and receives counseling service on a weekly basis from an agency social worker. The program borrows the intimacy of a family setting along with the staffing and structure of higher level programs. Yet, beyond the uniform structure, each home adopts a unique style suited to the group home family. Some homes emphasize a ranch style atmosphere, with horse riding and animal care. Other homes emphasize certain sport and recreational activities. Yet another leans toward substance abuse and therapeutic interventions. One home |
specializes in grade school children, another on the junior high age group. Four homes take females and six take males; none are coed.
Because we empower and support facility operators, burnout is almost non existent.
Except for death or retirement, the agency has had no turnovers in group home operators since it began in 1981.
This means high levels of stability and continuity, essential in establishing strong bonds with children. With no shift workers, the principal staff are available day and night.
Our numerous homes and programs provide flexibility. When the particular dynamics of a child require movement between homes rather than a placement failure, we can arrange it.
All group home residents undergo the agency assessment program. Each child receives a battery of tests and social appraisal at six month intervals. Progress is measured both objectively and subjectively. The results are used to modify program plans, target areas for special attention, and provide cues to behavior management.
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Admission
We designed our admission procedure to be fast and easy. Placement agencies shouldn't have to wait days or weeks for admission screening. Counties can call any of our offices, group homes, or county liaisons to initiate the process. It's our task to respond to the placement worker with current status on bed availability.
We rely heavily on the opinion of the placement worker as to suitability of the child for this level of care.
When desired, face-to-face interviews can be arranged. Our responsiveness, along with dedicated efforts to make placements successful, results in high occupancy rates. For recent years, occupancy averaged 100%; never falling below 97% since the program was founded in 1981.
Our 6-Bed Homes function at RCL 10, with a rate of $4064.
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