Homes for youth with mental health and/or developmental disabilities

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AWARE community-based youth residential group homes are for boys and girls who experience severe emotional disturbance and/or developmental disabilities. Safe, supportive environments, each home provides supervision with a two-staff to one-child ratio. Combined with natural, logical interventions, children experience relationships that foster trust, forgiveness, availability, emotional stability, and fun. 

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Treatment is based on each individual’s needs:

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• Therapy is available for co-occurring mental health and developmental disabilities.

• Wraparound approach always includes each child's natural support system.

• Interventions are developed through natural and logical learning opportunities.

• Community-based outings and interactions create opportunities to naturally learn skills.

• Services are based on long-term success outside of a treatment facility.

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Clinical Oversight

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AWARE offers clinical oversight as part of its residential youth program including:

• Treatment plan development.

• Individual, family and group therapy.

• In-house psychiatry.

• Connection to communities and specialized collaboration.

* Clinicians use evidence-based practices and interventions based on each child.

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Admission Criteria

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Children admitted to AWARE group homes are those diagnosed with a severe emotional disturbance (SED). They’re unable to function in a less restrictive environment. Most often, they demonstrate:

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• Impaired interpersonal/social functioning.

• Impaired educational/occupational functioning.

• Impaired judgement/impulse control.

• Lack of family/community networks.

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Also, as a result of SED, youth may exhibit:

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• Inability to perform daily living activities in a developmentally appropriate manner.

• Behaviors that result in the inability of the caregiver to safely provide care and structure in a family setting.

• Severe or persistent symptoms requiring more intensive treatment and clinical supervision than can be provided by outpatient or in-home mental health services.

• Significant risk of placement in an acute or psychiatric residential setting.

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Referral Process

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To refer a child to AWARE, please provide:

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• Clinical or psychiatric assessment with current mental status exam from the last 30 days.

• Education records, including IEP, 504, or CST.

• Any psychiatric/clinical evaluations from the last year.​

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​​​​For more information contact:

Jennifer Wihlborg, Service Director

jwihlborg@Aware-inc.org

406.529.1357

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