MCH finds success through innovative program

Every spring, staff at Methodist Children's Home watch with pride as graduating seniors walk across the stage at local high schools to accept their diplomas and prepare to embark on a promising future. Dreams of attending college or entering the workforce become reality for these young men and women, many of whom saw little hope for reaching these significant milestones prior to their placement at Methodist Children's Home.

The Class of 2001 held special significance as it included the first group of graduates who began their residency in the Home's structured care program. As these residents successfully progressed from structured to basic care, administrators and staff received affirmation that the innovative structured program changes lives in significant ways.

The structured program, which began in 1997, is designed for youth who exhibit a variety of emotional or behavioral needs that require a highly-restrictive environment. Staff rotation provides 24-hour care for residents, who live in a home unit with 8 to 10 other children and attend school on campus.

The structured program is designed to instill good social skills, a strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, anger management and conflict resolution skills. Deficiencies in these areas are often the source of family conflict and failure in school.

The program also serves as the last opportunity for some residents to change their behavior before they face possible placement in a juvenile correction facility. These residents may display a variety of characteristics, including truancy, verbal aggressiveness, drug or alcohol experimentation, mild gang involvement or minor brushes with the law. The goal of the structured program is to reclaim these lives before they become involved in more serious criminal behavior.

During the 1990s, acts of youth violence increased at an alarming rate. According to national crime statistics, arrests for youth in 1999 totaled 2.4 million, an average of 6,575 each day. In 1998, youth accounted for one out of six arrests for all violent crimes.

As the problems for many youth and families have become more complex, few programs have been available to address these needs. Recognizing this opportunity to care for and minister to this growing population, Methodist Children's Home developed its structured care program targeted for at-risk teens and pre-teens. Today, one-half of the Home's 180 residents on the main campus reside in nine structured home units.

Bobby Gilliam, who returned to Methodist Children's Home as president last April after leading an agency in Illinois for three years, served as vice president for child care at MCH when the structured program began.

"We are losing an entire generation of young people whose lives must be reclaimed," Gilliam said. "The kids who enter the structured program would not have been accepted into our care before we started the program. At that time, there was no place for them to go. Today, there is a place for them at Methodist Children's Home."

Philosophy of Care
The structured care program is based on the Home's strength-based philosophy of care that incorporates a concept called the "Circle of Courage." The Circle of Courage is comprised of four elements: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. The basis of this philosophy is that people are not whole until they achieve the four elements. If children can gain a sense of belonging to a group, master positive skills, achieve a sense of independence and show generosity toward others, then they have mastered the Circle of Courage and developed a solid foundation for future growth.

Under the strength-based philosophy, children are viewed as gifts from God who are blessed with unique strengths, talents and abilities, and the potential for positive change. This concept creates ways to empower children and youth to utilize their strengths to achieve success and a sense of self-worth.

"We know that the most effective method of helping kids make positive changes is by establishing healthy relationships with adults," Gilliam said. "Through these relationships, children develop a since of self-worth. And, as they begin to feel that someone cares for them, they gain self-confidence and become motivated to achieve success in other areas of their lives."

Program Components
Two programs of care are available on the main campus: basic care, which is often referred to as the traditional homeparent model, and the structured care program, a more closely-supervised program of care. The major components of the basic care and structured care programs are similar. However, there are significant differences based on the needs of children admitted to each program (see chart below).

Structured care residents who exceed expectations by making significant changes in their lives are placed on "transitional status." As these residents demonstrate continued growth, they become eligible to apply for transition to the basic care program.

The structured care program incorporates components that are practically applied to the Home's strength-based philosophy of care. Among the components are: spiritual development, academics, Youth Empowerment Groups, peer mediation, mentoring, social skills, anger management, problem-solving, conflict resolution, family work, therapeutic recreation, work programs, community service and independent living skills.

As residents achieve success in these areas, they experience positive change and personal growth.

Promising Future
While many children and youth will continue to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the future, administrators and staff at Methodist Children's Home will maintain their commitment to providing the highest quality of care and services to meet the myriad of needs. As staff members implement new programs and services, they will move forward with confidence, knowing they are backed by United Methodists and other friends who support their efforts through prayers and gifts.

"Kids who are candidates for the structured program make up the largest gap in care in the State of Texas," said Gilliam. "The costs required to establish and maintain an effective program of this type are high. Through the years, Methodist Children's Home has been richly blessed by the support of churches and friends. As a result, we boldly accepted the challenge to care for children and youth who are neglected and falling through the cracks in the child care system."

Recent studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the structured program. During the past two years, 51 residents in the structured care program have successfully made the transition to basic care. And, of the 24 members of the 2003 graduating class, nearly one-half began their time at the Home in the structured program.

"It is fulfilling to watch an increasing number of the kids who come into our structured program benefit from their efforts as they leave Methodist Children's Home better-equipped to face the future," Gilliam said.

In addition to its structured program, MCH administrators and staff will continue to discover ways to effectively meet the diverse needs of children and youth in today's society.

"Methodist Children's Home will remain steadfast in our commitment to provide quality care for kids who desperately need a place where they are loved, encouraged and challenged to reach their potential," Gilliam said.

This article appeared in the October 2003 issue of Sunshine. Methodist Children's Home, Waco, Texas