Community

• Family Support Team
• Foster Care
• Intensive Family Preservation Program
• Training
• Wildlife Rehabilitation/Nature Resources
• Community Meeting & Conference Facilities

Educational

• Experiential Education
• Special Education

Residential

• Group Homes
• Residential Treatment
• Safe Homes
• Shelter Services

Shelter Services

What is Waterford Country School’s Emergency Shelter Program?

Waterford Country School’s Emergency Shelter Program provides short term assessment and respite care for children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 who are in need of a safe place to stay in a time of transition or crisis.

What Does the Emergency Shelter Program Consist of?

The Emergency Shelter Program consists of three separate six-bed shelter units, two located in the Thomas Bent building and one located in the Rita’s building. Both buildings are on the campus of Waterford Country School. One of the six-bed shelters is for girls from Eastern Connecticut, one is for boys from Eastern Connecticut and the third is for boys from South-central Connecticut.

Shelter residents receive a diversified program of services, including crisis intervention and brief treatment. The programs are (STAR) programs or Short-Term Assessment and Respite programs. Full time Master’s level clinicians provide extensive case management services, as well as individual, group, and family therapy. Onsite psychiatric and nursing care is provided. Individualized classroom instruction and special education programs are provided on grounds by certified teachers for residents who are unable to attend school in the community.

Supervision is provided around the clock by highly trained child care workers dedicated to the physical and emotional well-being of the children and adolescents in their care.

Day-to-day life for the residents is structured with a focus on behavioral incentives and improving self-reliance in daily living activities.  The Shelter Program enables the residents to better face the multitude of challenges and stresses in their daily lives. The schedule allows time for a variety of recreational opportunities and group activities both on and off campus.

How are the Emergency Shelter Program Services Accessed?

Children and adolescents who become residents of the Shelter Program are referred by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).

A child or adolescent’s stay at the Waterford Country School Shelter is a stepping-stone in preparation for his or her next placement, whether it be returning home, going to a foster home, independent living, or another form of residential care.

As such, a critical role of the Emergency Shelter Program staff is to partner with DCF case managers and family members to assess each resident’s specialized needs, and, together, develop a treatment plan that ensures access to the services and resources required. This may include medical or dental care, psychiatric counseling, family support services, or other community-based resources.

For More Information:

Shelter Services
Waterford Country School
78 Hunts Brook Road, PO Box 408
Quaker Hill, CT 06375
P: 860-444-1944
F: 860-440-4376
info@waterfordcs.org