Programs & Services
St. John’s Home for Children
Social Service Agency
St. John’s Home for Children is a family-centered social service agency that operates a 10-bed Residential Level II group home for preadolescent boys, ages 6-12 years, who present with emotional and behavioral disorders typically due to being victims of abuse and /or neglect. We have a heavy programmatic emphasis on working with families. St. John’s Home for Children does not discriminate service delivery to consumers based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or creed.
Transferable Change
St. John’s Home for Children embraces an environmental approach to treatment that recognizes that most of a child’s “problem” behavior as a manifestation of disturbed interactions within the family. A child in residence is not viewed as “the problem,” but seen as someone with a problem that we need to help. Therefore, to be truly effective, the St. John’s Home for Children has adopted the belief that any changes learned by the child while in placement must be transferable to the child’s permanent placement. It is for this reason that the family must be an integral part of the treatment.
Family involvement is ensured through regularly scheduled family therapy sessions, phone calls, on-grounds visits with the child, and weekend home visits. The ultimate goal of St. John’s Home for Children is to return the child to his forever family and community.
Reverse Trauma
A basic therapeutic aim is to provide a setting and a structure which help reverse earlier trauma and emotional problems by getting the message across to each child and family that staff care about them and will help take care of them; staff are willing and able to manage the child and his difficulties; and staff will teach, and the child and family learn, the skills they need to “make it.” It is of extreme importance that St. John’s Home provides a well-defined residential setting that provides a consistent and nurturing environment.
Foster Conistency
An objective of St. John’s Home for Children is to foster a consistency among the total staff as to the philosophy of treatment. Involved in this objective is a recognition that each staff person is of equal importance in the therapeutic setting. Skills are different, but every contribution is viewed as being important. Staff must believe that regardless of their position or their particular job assignment, they may be the one person in the life of a given resident who becomes critical to the trust and growth of that particular child. Therefore, all staff members are involved in the treatment, design, and implementation under supervision of the clinical staff.
Re-Ed Philosophy
St. John’s Home for Children’s program is based on a Re-Ed philosophy. Re-Ed stands for the re-education of emotionally troubled children and youth. It is predicated on a systems theory base. A primary goal of St. John’s Home is to provide experiences that facilitate and enhance the reunification of the child and his forever family. Therefore, the participation of the child’s parents in tasks, activities, treatment, and the decision-making process throughout the child’s stay is seen as critical to the attainment of this goal. Parents are strongly encouraged to maintain an active role throughout the child’s placement with St. John’s with regular visits during placement, participating in school conferences, attending treatment planning and case review meetings, participating in their child’s birthday party and other special events, writing, and calling their child on a regular basis.
Licensed in West Virginia
St. John’s Home for Children has been designated and licensed by the WV Office of Health Facility, Licensure, and Certification (OHFLAC) as a Residential Children’s Services Level II facility, which provides the following types of services:
• Clinical Evaluation
• Treatment Plans
• Case Management
• Behavior Management
• Individual, Group, and Family Therapy
• Supportive Counseling
• Skills Training and Development
• Case Consultation
• Recreation Services
• Character Education
Schooling
Children placed at St. John’s Home attend local public schools. It is believed that a school-based educational component is a critical element in creating a normal environment for children in facilitating the process of mainstreaming and full inclusion. It is anticipated that most of the boys placed with St. John’s Home will require special education services, and that these children may already have an Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) prior to entering our program and the local schools. St. John’s Home maintains close communication with the school to intervene as quickly as possible to deal with problems arising at school and to promote the successes of the boys. St. John’s provides tutoring services in collaboration with Ohio County Schools.
A great experience is having your child’s needs put first – before, during and after placement. At St. John’s Home, this is our standard.
Your Success is Our Success
We understand that your success is the foundation of our success. That why we work tirelessly to understand and exceed the expectations of members of the MDT Team, Ohio County School Personnel, and our clients to consistently perform at the highest levels, and most importantly, to keep our promises.
What is Success?
Success to us is finding the right foster/adoptive home for each child placed with us, coupled with providing the rights skills to help each child placed in our care with the skills needed to be successful once he is placed with is forever family.