Residential Treatment Services for Teen Boys

McDowell Center for Children’s residential treatment program provides treatment for behavioral issues and mental health disorders in boys ages 12 to 17. Our secure, structured and supportive environment considers each resident’s educational, emotional, and behavioral needs. We work to establish a positive culture among the residents, reinforcing good decision making, and promoting healthier, pro-social problem-solving methods. The staff of McDowell assists the residents in accomplishing these goals by modeling appropriate communication skills, providing consistency in rule enforcement, and treating residents with patience, respect, and dignity. Within our general residential program, we have three separate, specialized tracks to meet specific needs for our young men.

Our Program Tracks

Mental Health Track: For the treatment of severe mental health and behavioral issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, trauma and more. 

Substance Abuse Track: For residents with co-occurring substance abuse issues, this track provides addiction education, along with participation in 12-Step programming and additional support groups. 

Dual Diagnosis Track: A specialized program for young men who are struggling with mental health issues but have also been diagnosed with an intellectual disability. 

Treatment Approach

Our program utilizes several therapy modalities to encourage changes in behaviors and thought patterns for residents who are struggling with mental health issues. Our program is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which encourages patients to explore past issues and behaviors to develop new thinking patterns, coping mechanisms, and relapse prevention strategies. For our residents struggling with addiction issues, we use the 12-Step Program and Moral Reconation Therapy to help them find a path to recovery. All residents will actively participate in individual, group and family therapy as essential and foundational components of the therapeutic process. Those more traditional modalities are supplemented by recreation therapy and expressive therapies (art, music, etc.).

Education Services

Education is central to the program at McDowell Center, leading our students toward growth in social, interpersonal, academic, and cognitive skills. We are licensed as a 6th to 12th grade school with Special Education services, and we follow the state’s approved curriculum and calendar. The school provides a comprehensive, individualized and intensive curriculum, which includes core academic subjects. Small classroom sizes allow teachers to focus on one-on-one interactions that build relationships, trust and self-confidence in our students. Teachers establish classroom activities to engage different learning styles and to provide hands-on learning while meeting the curriculum guidelines.

Upon admission, all residents will take an initial assessment to determine their academic needs and development levels. Our staff uses the results of that initial assessment and any academic records from the student’s home to develop a comprehensive, Individual Learning Plan (ILP). We do our best to match the curriculums of each student’s school. If any special enrichment services are needed, our department will work to find the appropriate referrals and resources for the student. For those students with approval to work on their HiSet, the prep work is assigned upon the student’s initial assessment.

To read the full Student-Parent Handbook for the 2021-2022 academic year, please click here.