Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program
Safe, secure, and stable home environments for foster youth.
Our Challenge
Sometimes children who have experienced trauma develop needs or have needs that are too difficult to be met in their current family setting. These youth require specialized care and supervision with the purpose of stabilizing and decreasing challenging behaviors and building family connections.
With deep roots in the community, Youth Homes is the oldest continually operating children’s residential program in Contra Costa County and our Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) (formerly Group Home) was the first of its kind in the East Bay.
Our Approach
Youth Homes provides shelter, food, safety, and structure in three six-bed STRTPs licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services. Each residence is nestled in a neighborhood community and is designed to provide a therapeutic environment in which children and youth (age 12-17) have stability and structure, attend school, develop positive relationships, and learn life skills. Integrated treatment plans focus on behavioral changes needed to return to a permanent placement of youth through family reunification or with a resource family. Youth Homes uses a trauma-informed care model, which is a set of practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing.
What to Expect
The three Youth Homes houses are comfortable homes in ordinary neighborhood settings that represent safety and normality. In addition to providing a positive environment, each of our residential programs also supports youth with individual and family therapy by a licensed therapist or registered intern.
The setting helps young people build structure in their lives, establishing regular times for meals, homework, sports, chores, and just hanging out. Skilled and compassionate staff help establish a home where youth can begin to separate their well-being from the difficult circumstances in their lives that were never their fault.