Childhelp Group Homes of Arizona

Childhelp operates two residential group homes in Arizona that serve pregnant teens and teen mothers. The group homes provide safe and stable environments for up to 20 young mothers and their children — many of whom have experienced neglect, abuse and abandonment before arriving at a Childhelp facility. Often these young women have been devastated by violence and fear and need support in changing their disruptive patterns. To help them on their journey, the girls residing in our group homes have access to skilled therapists with extensive training specific to trauma and abuse and to professional support staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our group homes offer “family style” environments designed to help the young mothers learn parenting skills, educate them about healthy life choices, and develop positive relationships and support systems. At the homes the young mothers learn important life lessons about raising their children, managing their time between school and work, and how to budget and save money. The girls are coached through daily routines with their children such as bath time before bed and when to put their children down for a nap. The home gives these mothers a stable environment to grow and the tools to create a stable environment for their children. It may not be a traditional home, but in this setting the mothers can become a support system for each other and the children become playmates.

Staff members and volunteers at our group homes provide encouragement and emotional support, helping the residents feel safe and comfortable. Our group homes provide a variety of services including residential care, academic support, daily needs, and independent living groups and social activities.

According to recent research, the important elements that a home should provide a child are:

• Connectedness – to feel part of someone else’s life
• Continuity – to have a sense of belonging to another person over a period of time
• Dignity – to feel worthy of respect and caring
• Opportunity – to have access to quality education, recreation, socialization and leisure

An effective group home reflects all these qualities, and Childhelp’s ACP Group Homes strive to do just that.

Program Distinctives

• Residents needing mental health services are linked to the state mental health providers.
• A specially-designed independent living skills program that provides teen girls with basic social and life skills as they become self-sufficient young adults.

Program Goals

1. Continue to assess and improve financial sustainability by increasing average daily census and client referral sources.
2. Create a comprehensive training program for staff to improve the quality of staff and staff performance with particular focus on introducing the Youth Development Approach (YDA).
3. Design and implement curriculum to teach young women residing in Childhelp group homes parenting skills and provide them with skills to develop better relationship choices.