Group homes for troubled youths are home-like facilities that function as a temporary therapeutic opportunity for troubled youths. These sorts of homes provide 24/7 supervision, security, structure, life coaching, academics, and numerous levels of professional therapy.
They are designed for youths who act out in rebellion, are rusticated from school, cannot get along with their parents, or need therapeutic intervention for behavioral or emotional issues. In the adolescent years, youth are known to start developing behavioral issues that have to do with family problems, academic problems, learning disorders, depression, ADD, ADHD, substance abuse, adoption issues, or addictions.
Youths experiencing troubles at home with little or no improvement with traditional forms of youth counseling tend to get enrolled into this sort of group home. Juvenile detention centers and treatment facilities are known to be at the forefront of rehabilitating young offenders.
Group homes also tend to smooth the transition between incarceration and return to normal life, and they help reset the emotional compasses of troubled youths. To start and manage this sort of home, you will need patience and fortitude.
There are numerous types of group homes for youths. They can be for a specific problem or reason, or it can be a massive home handling a whole lot of issues that troubled youths encounter.
Group homes for youths can be for any of the following: drug abuse, depression, suicide, ADD/ADHD, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, behavior problems, smoking, conduct disorders, eating disorders, violence, anger, learning disabilities, bipolar disorders, or at-risk youth.
These homes also require residents to take an active role in managing the household, such as carrying out chores, cooking, cleaning, gardening, and taking care of the house as if it were their own.
Have it in mind that being a part of a “family setting” allows a hurting young person to be a part of something special (a caring family) while handling their problems. Group homes are less restrictive than residential treatment centers or therapeutic boarding schools.
How to Start a Group Home for Troubled Youths
The necessary steps to take when looking to start a group home for troubled youths will depend on the type of group home you intend to open.
A good number of group homes for troubled youths operate their program via a home-based residential model, typically with 20 or fewer students. Students will cohabit together and support one another for the duration of their time in the program. To help you achieve your aim, here are steps to take;
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Understand the needs of your community
Just because you have the resources does not mean you can start a group home for troubled youths. Ensure to reach out to your state’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to understand the needs of youths in your community.
Describe your intentions and understand what you are expected to do to open a licensed group home facility in your area. Request for a written guide or instruction that will help you to successfully start a group home for youths.
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Put together a viable business plan
You need to develop a business plan that includes a budget for buying or renting a facility, furnishing, and equipping the residence. Take your time to consider; based on your state’s occupancy limits for group homes, the number of children you will legally be able to habit.
Ensure that your business plan describes how the facility will operate, where funding will come from, rules and regulations under which it will be managed, and oversight to which the home will be subjected over time.
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Find and acquire a facility
You will need to purchase a facility that meets the space requirements you need to establish your group home for troubled youth. It is recommended that you have the facility or building inspected before you invest your resources to ensure no structural issues are awaiting you down the line.
Also, make sure that the property isn’t zoned for multiple occupants. You should also expect resistance from neighbors who may not want to have a troubled youth group home in their backyard.
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Funding and necessary permits
Just as in any business endeavor, you will need adequate funding to start this sort of home. Owing to that, consider holding a fundraiser to solicit for cash.
You can also seek fundraisers and donations of in-kind goods like beds, linens, chairs, kitchen appliances, tabletop and linen supplies, and other household necessities to help outfit your facility. Also, find out the sort of licenses and permits you need in your community while you await permission to occupy the residence. Work through leasing or mortgage acquisition steps.
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Appoint a board of directors
This is a very serious consideration when looking to start a successful group home for troubled youths. Ensure to seek volunteers willing to serve on your group home’s board of directors. Ask board members to draft and ratify rules and regulations residents will be expected to follow while they’re housed at your group home. Ensure to submit to all necessary inspections from local authorities.
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Employ staff and caregivers
You will need to employ qualified staff to help run your group home for troubled youth. Request and collect resumes, look for previous experience with youthful offenders, run criminal background checks and hold an orientation to ensure they are all conversant with the facility’s rules, regulations, and operational protocols.
Also, request that staff submit suggestions for programming ideas that will help transition residents to mainstream living while residing at your group home.
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Develop your group home activities
Aside from offering a safe and stable living environment, your group home for troubled youths will also need to provide the quality of rehabilitative help that’s known to turn lives around. Owing to that, develop programs that will teach basic skills such as budgeting and household maintenance tasks.
Remember to work on interpersonal relationships, promote educational opportunities, and offer career and job counseling. You should also help residents learn how to manage their physical and emotional needs.
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Keep growing
Knowledge is never static; instead, it changes and improves over time. Owing to that, it is recommended that you leverage the training and mentoring offered by local and state youth-focused agencies looking to help new group home facilitators from the time they declare their intention to start a group home.
Take your time to locate and attend workshops and in-service courses devoted to administrative and therapeutic topics so you’re always understanding new trends, and developing new ways to help your residents.
Conclusion
By letting troubled youths explore their emotional and behavioral issues in a properly controlled, non-judgmental environment with the help of mentors, group homes guarantee that they can do away with their negative emotions in positive ways rather than intensifying the negative feelings with negative behaviors.
Note that this is a vicious cycle that traps the youth and their loved ones. By starting a group home for troubled youths, you can contribute to the community and also give some younger lads a good chance at life.