RESIDENTIAL CARE
Methodist Children's Home strives to provide the care necessary to meet the challenging needs of children and youth in today's society. Throughout its history, residential care has remained at the heart of Methodist Children's Home. The Home provides basic and structured care for an average of 180 residents on its Waco campus. Residents range in age from 12 to 18 and the average stay at the Home is 18 months. Youth must be younger than 18 to be considered for admission. The Home's comprehensive program of care encourages residents to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Basic Care Program	Food Service
Structured Care Program	Religious Education
Charter School	Recreation
Health Care	Counseling Services

Basic Care Program
Boys and girls in basic care home units live with 8 to 12 residents and are supported by homeparents, a caseworker and other trained child care staff. Basic care residents attend Waco public schools and may participate in religious, choir and recreational activities on campus and in the community. Each year, many of the Home's residents are recognized by their schools for success in academics and extracurricular activities. In addition, an independent living program, designed for high school juniors and seniors, teaches residents responsibility and practical living skills.

Structured Care Program
The structured care program provides more intensive supervision and structure for residents. Residents live in home units with 8 to 12 other residents and child care staff. Residents attend an on-campus school where they pursue an individual educational plan.

Charter School
In an effort to better meet the educational needs of students, MCH joined the University of Texas - University Charter School in the summer of 2003.

All residents in the structured program and selected basic care residents attend the on-campus school. Due to academic and behavioral needs, these students require more flexibility and individual attention than public school systems offer. Enhanced staffing, a 4:1 student/caregiver ratio, positive behavior management and the various academic options available through the school are key factors for residents who achieve academic success and personal growth through the MCH program. The school offers a diverse academic curriculum for 6th through 12th grades.

As part of its affiliation with the University of Texas - University Charter School System, the Methodist Children's Home Campus must meet rigorous academic standards and accountability assessments established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Health Care
Methodist Children's Home provides quality health care for residents through the campus medical clinic. Members of the medical staff provide residents with routine checkups, immunizations and simple dental treatments. A pediatrician and dentist are on call 24 hours a day as medical attention is needed. If more serious medical attention is required, children are taken to a local hospital or doctor's office.

Food Service
The food service staff at Methodist Children's Home provides a weekly menu and food items for each home unit.

Religious Education
Methodist Children's Home offers a variety of religious education activities to encourage spiritual development. These include Sunday and Wednesday worship services, Sunday School, choir, camps, mission trips and special events.

Recreation
Recreation complements the overall residential experience. In addition to sports, swimming and other fitness activities, the recreation program sponsors campus organizations which provide opportunities for residents to develop teamwork and leadership skills. Internships and work projects enable residents to gain job-related skills, and service projects allow residents to contribute to the needs of others in the local community and beyond.

Counseling Services
Counseling is provided as needed to residents and families by trained and experienced professional counselors. Psychological and psychiatric resources are also available as needed.