 Boys & Girls Town opened its Columbia campus in 2001 when it assumed management of The Front Door, a not-for-profit residential treatment program for abused and neglected teens. The original Columbia campus included a girls’ cottage, a boys’ cottage and an administrative center in separate locations.
In 2005, the first phase of a new 5.8-acre campus was completed offering a relaxed, spacious setting with on site recreational activity opportunities and including a cottage for boys and one for girls, serving 24 children. Upon completion, the campus will serve a total of 48 children adding two more cottages housing 12 residents each, a centralized dining hall and a meeting room for recreational therapy.
Residential Treatment Program
The residential treatment program on the Columbia campus provides 24-hours-a-day supervision in a therapeutic environment. The program offers two levels of care, including Intensive Treatment and Intermediate Treatment.
Based on individual needs, a combination of these services are available to all residents:
• Psychiatric and psychological assessments and evaluations
• Individual, Group and Family Therapy
• Recreation Therapy
• Outreach Services
• School in the Wilderness
Intensive Treatment
Intensive Treatment Units offers a safe, secure and structured environment for youth who need stability and are at risk of suicide, running away, self-inflicted injury, violence and extreme aggressive behavior. Intensive Treatment offers special features to ensure this environment including an audio/video security monitoring system, locked entry/exit, self-contained, on-site classrooms and a 1:4 staff to resident ratio.
Intermediate Treatment
Intermediate Treatment Units offer programming and security comparable to the intensive treatment units, however the therapeutic structure offer more independence. The staff to resident ratio is 1:6.
Independent Supported Living
The Independent Supportive Living Program gives young men and women, ages 17-20, the opportunity to live in their own apartment in the Columbia community. This supportive, real life experience enables the youth to develop the skills to become self-sufficient responsible citizens. Youth receive a weekly allowance and help managing their bills from an independent living coordinator. Participants must work part-time, complete their GED, pursue further educational opportunities and maintain a savings account. The average length of stay is 12 to 15 months.
Education
Educational services are provided in cooperation with Columbia Public Schools for the children in residential care. Residents attend school in on-campus classrooms or in local public schools.
Family Focus Program
Family Focus is designed to engage the family (biological or adoptive) in the treatment process while their child is in residential care, and to prepare them for the child’s return home. It is a unique nine- to 12-month venture where the child spends the first three months in residential care and the remaining months in his or her home with transitional support. Both the child and family receive intensive treatment services designed specifically to meet their needs.
Admissions Information
Admission into one of Boys & Girls Town’s programs is fast, confidential and focused on addressing the needs of the child and family.
Children are referred to by the Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, Department of Social Services Children’s Division, Department of Mental Health, Division of Youth Services, the court system, insurance and managed care companies, employee assistance professionals, parents or other guardians. Referrals may come from Missouri or any other state. Children placed at our Columbia campus must meet basic admissions criteria: age 11-18, availability of bed space, a current diagnosis and the family’s ability to pay through either public or private sources.
Common diagnostic characteristics include: attention deficit disorder, anti-social behavior, bi-polar disorder, conduct disorder, depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and suicidal ideations.
These disorders are often exhibited through one or more of the following behavioral problems: inappropriate behavior in school or at home, poor school performance, acts of delinquency, running away, sexually acting out, gang involvement and drug and/or alcohol abuse.
Boys & Girls Town placement experts work with families to identify all available public and private resources to ensure that each child gets the help he or she needs. The cost of treatment programs are covered by most insurance plans.
Most children remain at Boys & Girls Town for six to nine months, although length of stay is evaluated on an individual basis and can be influenced by the policies of the referral source, the child’s behavior, family circumstances and treatment team recommendations.
For information about Columbia referrals, please contact the Admissions Department at (573) 874-8686.
Where do Boys & Girls Town children go?
More than 80 percent of the youth leaving Boys & Girls Town residential care in 2004 returned to live with a parent or family member, or transitioned into foster care or independent living services. Others remained in residential care or moved to more restrictive environments such as hospitals.
How You Can Help
The success of Boys & Girls Town’s treatment of young people is a tribute to the generous support of the Columbia community and friends throughout Missouri. Those interested in helping these young people succeed may provide financial support to help maintain and develop programs, serve as a mentor, provide employment opportunities. Individuals, companies and civic groups interested in volunteering time and talent are welcome.
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri - Columbia Campus
4304 South Bearfield Rd.
Columbia, MO 65201
Phone: (573) 874-8686
Fax: (573) 874-8608
www.bgtm.org
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