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Guide Home Program
 Program
Description
The Guide Home Program serves hard-to-place
adjudicated juveniles as they transition from state correctional
institutions back to community settings. Youth are placed with adults
in specialized foster homes where adults serve as surrogate parents
and guides to these older adolescents. In most cases, there can
be no other children under the age of 18 living in a Guide Home.
Youth placed in the Guide Home Program have been
hurt by others in their past and have turned their hurts into behaviors
that are illegal. The result has led them to involvement with youth
court, and the court has committed them for placement in correctional
institutions. When these youth have successfully completed their
institutional stay and are ready to try living in a healthy family
environment, they transition to a Guide Home. However, they are
not eligible or able to return to their own family.
Surrogate parents are matched with the youth through
a series of steps to assure a proper fit. Guide Home parents are
provided thorough training in order to learn what is necessary to
be successful with these youth. They are also provided ongoing training
to assure state-of-the-art approaches to caring for these youth.
Once the youth moves into the Guide Home, a Care
Manager meets with the family at least once each week to make certain
everything is running smoothly. The Care Manager also helps the
youth gain access to mentors, therapists, respite providers and
others as appropriate. The program serves both males and females
who are working toward emancipation rather than a return home.
Program Benefits
Youth coming out of state correctional institutions often need a
transition period to learn how to live in a healthy family setting.
Additionally, they need a support system to help them address behavioral
issues and coping skills in order to return to mainstream society
where the goal is for them to live a quality and productive healthy
lifestyle.
Suggested Uses
Youth who are prepared to step down from a correctional institution
and begin their journey back into a community and mainstream society.
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