St. John’s Home is known for its warm, nurturing, home-like atmosphere, and proven record of effectiveness with troubled children and teens.

Learn More: St. John’s Home Model of Change

St. John’s Home provides services to males and females between the ages of 6 and 17. They must be residents of the state of Michigan and be court wards due to parental abuse or neglect. They must have an IQ of 70 or greater. Youth can also be placed through Adoption Subsidy Insurance Payment. We work with delinquent wards only by exception.

Young children receive individual play therapy and pre-placement family therapy, when appropriate. The children enjoy a healthy family atmosphere in our homes which prepares them for normal family life.

Teens also live in family-style homes. They participate in intensive individual and group therapy, and themed discussions focused on six questions of personal identity: Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I belong? Whom do I love? Who loves me? How can I be true to myself? This group format promotes bonding among peers and quickly integrates newer students into the house group.

Learn More: Client Testimonials.

For boys and girls between the ages of six and 12, the ratio is 1:4. The Children’s Home treatment team includes a Master’s level Therapist, a Bachelor’s level House Manager, and six Bachelor’s level Counselors. Eight boys or eight girls live in each house.

For teens ages 13 to 17, the staff ratio is 1:5. This includes a Master’s level Therapist, a Bachelor’s level House manager, and six Bachelor’s level Counselors. Ten girls or ten boys live in each house.

Our students attend the Grand Rapids Public Schools or special programs offered by the Kent Intermediate School District. Three full-time educational specialists and four therapists assist students during the school day to achieve success in the classroom. A counseling team assists with homework and encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports, music and club memberships. During the summer every student attends a ten-week summer school program.

Residential treatment includes individual and group counseling services, recreational therapy, educational support services, nursing and wellness care, a consulting psychiatrist, and a consulting pediatrician.

St. John’s provides three months of aftercare services. These include face-to-face visits, as well as contact by phone, to ease the transition to new placements. Beyond this formal aftercare regimen, we also stay in touch for the next nine months in order to follow the child for a full year.

St. John’s Home has been tracking student outcomes since 1995. We consistently succeed in placing three-quarters of our graduates in less restrictive environments after discharge.

All graduates of St. John’s residential treatment program qualify for a full college or vocational scholarship—no matter how old they were when they left our care. Some of our former residents are studying architecture, engineering, culinary arts and psychology. Others are employed in the fields of health care, law enforcement, business, social work and other skilled careers.

Learn More: “In My Own Words:” A College Graduate Remembers St. John’s Home.

For further information about our residential treatment programs or admission criteria, please call (616) 361-5227, or email intake@stjohnshome.org. Mailed or faxed referral packets should include the child’s psychological evaluation, social history (ISP, USP), educational history, and any other materials that will help us get to know the child. We will review that information and conduct a personal interview. We always encourage the child to visit our campus prior to placement.