CHD runs two group homes for adolescent girls who may have a history of trauma, abuse, or neglect.
The Allen Street home is a nine-bed behavioral treatment residence in Springfield. The behaviors requiring treatment include: physical and verbal aggression, substance abuse, running away, self-injury, suicidal ideation, depression and other mental health issues. Many of the clients enter Allen Street directly from in-patient psychiatric hospitals.
Adolescents referred to this program are given the opportunity to grow educationally, emotionally, socially and physically through the various services offered.
The Northampton Street home is an eight-bed home in Holyoke. The adolescents referred here may have had difficulty in traditional foster care settings. Clients reside at the home, but attend educational or vocational programs outside the home. They are assisted in learning basic life skills and, when appropriate, transition to independent living. Clients often obtain part-time jobs, participate in household management activities, such as cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping. They hope is to equip each girl with the needed skills to function in a less restrictive placement.
Both homes offer individual, group and family therapy, weekly Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups, recreational activities, coordination of medical and dental appointments and psychiatric services. The residents are enrolled in either an educational or vocational program based on their individual service plan. Our philosophy is accomplished through, but not limited to, the following: a stimulating, engaging, safe and nurturing environment; success bound experiences for those who have often encountered failure prior to placement and advocacy for what is believed to be in the best interest of the client. In this model, we believe we are able to ensure that the safety and well being of the client is of the utmost priority.
Dakota House is a site-based group home for boys over 16 years old who are aging out of Dept. of Children and Families care and are preparing but not quite ready for independent living. Dakota House offers a safe and secure environment while preparing the residents for success not only once they are on their own but throughout their lives. The residents learn independent living skills (cooking, cleaning, finances), how to develop and achieve goals and to advocate for themselves. Dakota House can have four males in residence. Youth are completing their secondary education or have just started post-secondary education. Youths may earn unsupervised community time and are encouraged to seek part-time employment.