Caring for Youth in Shelters: Effective Strategies for Professional Caregivers

This training manual presents Girls and Boys Town's model for the treatment and safe care of youth in emergency shelters, staff-secure detention facilities and short-term residential crisis centers. The model, currently in use at Girls and Boys Town facilities in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Long Beach and Orlando, shows staff how to ensure the safety and rights of children, create a family-style living environment, develop individual treatment plans, provide parent-child mediation, and foster family reunification. Other topics include professionalism, teaching curriculum skills, setting tolerances, building relationships, teaching appropriate behavior, shelter motivation systems, youth rights, and reporting problems. Also provided are sample forms, references, and an index.