Residential Activities & Services

LIVING UNITS

Saint Joseph's Children's Home Residential Program consists of five living units.  Each living unit serves a distinct population based on the age, sex and acuity level of the youth.  The living units provide an atmosphere of comfort, warmth and learning.  The facility is staffed by employees who are extensively trained to work with emotionally and behaviorally disturbed youth in a nurturing and highly structured manner.

ALPHA UNIT: This unit can house up to twelve girls that typically range between the ages of 6 to 17 years of age.  This unit is located in the St. John Bosco Children's Center, which was built in 2004.

DELTA UNIT: This unit can house up to twelve boys, and provides a living environment for our youngest male population starting at age 6 to the age of 11.  This unit is located in the St. John Bosco Children's Center.

OMEGA UNIT: This unit can house up to twelve boys ranging in age from 11 to 14 years of age.  This unit is located in the Sisters of St. Francis Children's Center, which was built in 2001.

GAMMA UNIT: This unit can house up to twelve boys typically between the ages of 14 to 17.  This unit is located in the Sisters of St. Francis Children's Center.

NEWELL CHILDREN'S CENTER: The Newell Center is a facility with monitoring and security capabilities.  This unit has a higher staff to resident ratio than the other units. 

NUTRITION SERVICES

The heart of nutrition program beats in the kitchen.  Good nutrition is essential and studies show well-noursihed children perform better.  We provide healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinner and after-school snacks to our residents.  Saint Joseph's Children's Home employs very talented cooks who are educated in food service standards, food safety, preparation, USDA and school guidelines.

Saint Joseph's Children's Home is participating in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and will be offering free breakfast and lunch to all students.  

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:

         [email protected]

Saint Joseph's Children's Home Wellness Policy and Triennial Assessment is available upon request.  Please send your request to [email protected]. 
 

YOUTH MINISTRY

Saint Joseph's Children's Home is an agency of social ministry in the Catholic tradition.  Spirituality plays a very important role in the healing process.  As a Christian facility, Saint Joseph's Children's Home introduces residents to Christian values and incorporates Christian spirituality into the treatment program by offering ecumenical services and activities to all residents.  A full-time youth minister is available on grounds to assist residents with this aspect of their treatment.  A youth choir, theatrical performances and daily chapel are available to residents who wish to participate.  Arrangements can be made for youth to attend services of their own faith if feasible within the youth's individual treatment plan.

SOCIAL SKILLS

Saint Joseph's Children's Home recognizes the importance of providing daily social skill instruction in combination with intervention strategies.  The youth are taught and expected to utilize the Basic Social Skills.

As the youth are able to master the basic social skills and advance through their treatment, intermediate and advanced social skills are added to their skill set.

THE BASIC SOCIAL SKILLS INCLUDE:

• Following Instruction
• Accepting "No" Answers
• Engaging in Conversations
• Greeting Others
• Accepting Criticism
• Accepting a Consequence
• Disagreeing Appropriately
• Showing Respect
• Showing Sensitivity to Others

LONE STAR 4-H CLUB AND COUNTY FAIRS

Saint Joseph's Children's Home has a long and rich tradition in agriculture. In the 1930's the children of the facility were involved in raising purebred sheep, dairy cattle and poultry and of growing fine vegetables. The older children were enrolled in 4-H, and raised 4-H animals and vegetables and helped to care for the dairy cows, poultry, and hogs, and to tend to the garden.

Today the youth of Saint Joseph's Children's Home continue to participate in the 4-H program. The St. Joseph's Lone Star 4-H Club raises goats, sheep, pigs, steers and rabbits. The residents of the facility care for the animals throughout the summer and show them at the local county fair each year. The proceeds from the sale of the animals are awarded to the residents. The children of the facility are also involved in gardening and grow a mixture of flowers and vegetables each year.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Saint Joseph's Children's Home residents are offered after-school activities that promote health, confidence and proper use of leisure time. These activities include a 4-H club, playground time, choir and swimming lessons. They also can participate in weekend outings, such as skating, bowling, sporting events, going to a movie, going to the zoo or taking a picnic to one of the area parks.  Swimming lessons are a seasonal program.