Specialized Therapeutic Group Care

Home Safe operates three Specialized Therapeutic Group Homes located in Boca Raton, Lake Worth and West Palm Beach for 28 adolescents ages 10 through 17 who have moderate to severe emotional disturbance. Group Care Services are offered in an intensive community-based licensed residence and are appropriate for youth who are ready to step down from a more restrictive residential treatment program or for those who require more intensive community-based treatment to avoid placement in a more restrictive setting.

The services are designed to provide a therapeutic framework of daily living for adolescents in care. The goal is to maximize strengths and reduce behavior problems or functional deficits stemming from a mental health disorder that interferes with the adolescent’s personal, family, educational, vocational, or community adjustment. The youth’s primary diagnosis and level of functioning are the reasons for treatment and the focus of the interventions and services provided. Generally these services include psychiatric and clinical services, therapeutic supervision, and the teaching of problem solving and independent living skills, behavioral strategies, age appropriate activities, and other authorized treatment modalities.

Services are highly supportive, individualized and flexible. They occur in a home-like setting with the participation of family, guardians, community, and school personnel. The youth served are expected to spend a significant amount of time in the community, attending school, and participating in recreational and social activities that they can safely manage. The program philosophy is based on a resiliency model in conjunction with a cognitive behavioral, solution focused clinical approach. Staff members are trained to focus on adolescent strengths and creating a positive peer culture that will help each youth develop increased confidence and independence. The behavior management system and milieu reinforce positive change and promote leadership skills while providing a safe environment to learn and develop new coping techniques and behaviors. Residents are encouraged to act as mentors and role models to younger peers entering the program. Services generally cover a period of up to 12 months, with the anticipated outcomes being improved emotional well being, increased ability to manage in the community, increased likelihood of a successful transition to family or a less restrictive setting, and/or increased capacity for independent living.

Eligibility criteria include:

Adolescent age(s) 10-17 with an ICD-9-CM diagnosis and functional/behavioral problems not related to cognitive or developmental disabilities.
Medicaid and Magellan eligibility.
Youth who have reached a maximum benefit from a more restrictive setting or who have tried and been unsuccessful in a less restrictive setting.
Have been enrolled in an SED or EH educational program or scored 50 or below in the Axis V: Globe Assessment of Functioning Scale within the last 6 months.
Suitability Assessment by a Qualified Evaluator and an Authorization for Therapeutic Group Care.

For Additional information contact the Clinical Director at 561-383-9800 x 1233 or the Director of Residential Services at 561-383-9800 X 1249. Home Safe does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity or religion, but retains the right to make the final decision about an applicant’s appropriateness for admission