About Us

We are a community-based program. Our residences are not secure settings. Our houses look like normal homes within the community. Our goal is to prepare the youth in our program for transitioning back into their community with the skills to self-regulate their behaviors. We are a great step-down opportunity between residential and foster homes, even when the youth are returning home. S.T.AR.S. residents get a chance to practice being back in the community before their level of supervision and supports are reduced. We are a great alternative for youth who may otherwise be placed in a residential setting when education is a major concern, or for youth who struggle with developing positive attachments when in a foster home setting.  

S.T.A.R.S. has many standard components that include education, employment, therapy, etc.; however, each resident works from a service plan that is tailored to their special needs and situations. We offer 24 hour support and supervision with an awake staff on-unit at all times. Each youth plays a unique and valuable role in this family-like group, having specific responsibilities; and while each resident is encouraged to stay focused on their goals, consideration for others within the home is strongly reinforced. We teach the importance of both self-development and teamwork because, from our experience, we have seen that the most progress is usually made when the group is acting cohesively. Residents are supervised while they are at the facility, but all of our teens have a chance to practice independence throughout their time in the program. 

We teach independent living skills on a daily basis in groups. Residents complete the Casey Life Skills assessment upon admission. We also incorporate the Casey Life Skills Resources to Inspire Guide into our groups. We encourage our youth to get jobs in the community and help them save money from each paycheck while helping them learn budgeting skills with their spending money. The program is centered on reality therapy principles and emphasizes a percentage and privilege system to help motivate the resident’s growth and success. Residents have household chores in the group home which help them develop good hygiene and housekeeping skills. Residents are able to earn privileges such as unsupervised free time in the community where they are given a time to be on their own and must return to the group home by the designated time. Community time varies based on age and current functioning level in the program. We do not incorporate a level system for our youth as we want their living situation to resemble as closely to real life situations as possible. If there are negative behaviors then they receive a consequence based on the behavior, which can include loss of privileges. Residents are taught about accountability and being able to understand how their choices directly impact them in the community.