Shelter Care Program/Group Home Program – Big Sky Youth Center

Program Description

The Big Sky Youth Center is located in Bozeman and serves as a facility to deliver our Shelter Care and Group Home Program. It serves up to eight clients ages 11-18. This community-based facility provides 24-hour awake supervision, intervention, stabilization, and family style care.

The Center provides 24-hour supervision with a 1:4 staff-to-child ratio. The child’s team, in conjunction with the program team, will recommend length of stay. Average length of stay is between 30-45 days. The Program Manager and the funding agency may make exceptions to the length of stay on a case-by-case basis, based on the youth’s needs and following approval.

Following stabilization, our primary goal is to establish a comprehensive team to review the child’s progress, to assist in assessment, to develop a Care Plan, and to make recommendations for discharge and aftercare.

Youth will participate in their pre-arranged school program, day treatment, or vocational rehabilitation program Monday through Friday. Every effort will be made to support the child in his/her established school routine.

Children will participate in psycho-educational groups three times per week, and may participate in family therapy if the family is available. These therapies can either occur on-site, at another YDI facility, or at another provider’s office. Any child who has been prescribed psychotropic medications will be seen by their psychiatrist on a regular basis. Therapy plans are based on the unique needs of each child and family, and are directly related to the goals for each. Each resident will also be assigned a program counselor “advocate” who will meet with the child on a weekly basis. A YDI Therapist and/or Program Supervisor will provide clinical oversight.

Youth in the Shelter Care Program or the Group Home Program are on a point system. They earn points for good behavior, doing chores, participating in activities and groups, and overall positive interactions. The youth spend points for privileges.

Suggested Uses

  • Shelter runaway and homeless youth until a plan is established.
  • Resource and referral for Intake workers who have a youth in need of short-term shelter care or extended group care.
  • Transitional care between levels of care.
  • Crisis intervention.