What We Do
At Christ Child House, we embrace a youth-guided, family-driven approach to care, placing each child and their family at the center of the healing process. Our clinicians focus on key areas that promote long-term stability, growth, and connection:
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Building Coping Skills
We equip youth with practical, healthy strategies to manage stress, regulate emotions, and navigate life’s challenges. -
Fostering Social and Emotional Resilience
Our programs strengthen each child’s ability to overcome adversity and develop confidence in themselves and their future. -
Supporting Healthy Attachment
We prioritize the development of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between youth and their caregivers. -
Strengthening Forever-Family Connections
Whether through reunification or adoption, we are committed to building and sustaining lifelong family bonds. -
Addressing Separation, Grief, and Loss
Our team provides compassionate support to help youth process complex emotions and experiences related to separation from family. -
Promoting Permanency and Stability
We advocate for secure, lasting living situations that give each child a true sense of belonging.
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Our inclusive model actively engages families, including biological parents, incarcerated parents, and placement caregivers, as essential partners in the treatment process.
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Support continues beyond a child’s stay. Our clinical team provides up to one year of aftercare services, helping families successfully transition, rebuild connections, and maintain stability at home.
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Throughout their time at Christ Child House, each child follows a personalized path toward hope and healing, guided by a multidisciplinary team. By addressing physical, emotional, and relational needs, we help lay the groundwork for lasting success.
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Our residential program offers the following services:
Psychiatric and Therapeutic Services
QRTP certified
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Residential Care:
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At Christ Child House, we believe every boy deserves compassion, dignity, and individualized care, regardless of the challenges he has faced. Many of the children we serve have experienced significant trauma, including abuse and multiple foster care disruptions. In response, we provide comprehensive, trauma-informed treatment plans tailored to each child’s unique emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs.
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In 2024, we enhanced our model by transitioning to a Mental Health Behavioral Stabilization (MHBS) program. This shift allows for more intensive support through improved staff-to-child ratios and a highly structured therapeutic environment. Our approach includes psychiatric evaluation, evidence-based therapies, and age-specific interventions, supporting younger boys (ages 6–12) in building critical developmental skills, while preparing older youth (ages 13–16) with the tools needed for a successful transition into adulthood.
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Our commitment extends well beyond a child’s time in residence. We provide up to one year of aftercare support, including ongoing family engagement and assistance connecting to community-based resources such as mental health services and educational programs. For children without a permanent family connection, we actively work to identify and establish “forever families,” ensuring every child has the opportunity for stability, belonging, and love.
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Through compassion, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in each child’s potential, Christ Child House is dedicated to proving that it is never too late for a happy childhood.
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QRTP:
As a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) certified facility, Christ Child House provides an extensive array of specialized services to meet the unique needs of our residents.
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With an emphasis on trauma-informed care, our clinical staff, including a Clinical Therapist, Case Manager, Clinical Director, and Transitional Care Coordinator, are trained to offer comprehensive support to both youth and families. This includes engagement upon entry into the program and ongoing assistance throughout their placement and transition.
Under the leadership of our Educational Coordinator, we ensure seamless coordination between youth, schools, and families to provide comprehensive educational support. Additionally, our aftercare program facilitates continued support through visits, meetings, and transportation as needed.
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Our commitment to trauma-informed care is evident in our integration of evidence-based practices, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) model. Our staff undergo extensive training in trauma interventions and treatment, and we prioritize ongoing professional development to enhance our capacity in this area.
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To address potential secondary trauma among staff, we provide training, debriefing, and support initiatives, fostering resilience and compassion within our workforce.
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Through continuous review and enhancement of policies and protocols, transparent communication, and collaboration among our treatment team, we strive to create a safe and supportive environment for our residents as they journey towards healing and recovery.
Psychiatric and Therapeutic Services:
Christ Child House provides comprehensive, on-site psychiatric and therapeutic services designed to meet the diverse and complex needs of our residents:
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Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
A consulting child and adolescent psychiatrist conducts individualized assessments to determine each child’s clinical needs, including the potential use of medication and additional therapeutic supports. -
Individual Therapy
Every resident participates in regular, intensive one-on-one therapy sessions. These sessions address key areas such as trauma, anger management, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, grief and loss, life skills, and healthy development. -
Clinical Therapy Team
Our Master’s-level Clinical Therapists lead both individual and group sessions using evidence-based practices and behavior modification strategies. Therapeutic modalities include play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and adventure-based therapy. -
Skill-Building Groups
Youth Specialists facilitate structured group sessions that focus on developing practical and social skills. Topics range from current events and communication to problem-solving and daily living skills. -
Independent Living Programming (Ages 14+)
Older youth participate in targeted activities that prepare them for adulthood. Programming includes:-
Budgeting and financial literacy
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Job readiness and employment skills
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Communication and relationship-building
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Health, hygiene, and wellness
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Household management
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Educational support
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Preventive health awareness
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Parenting skills
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Accessing community resources
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Educational Support:
At Christ Child House, we recognize that education is a critical foundation for long-term success. We are committed to ensuring every child receives the academic support and opportunities needed to thrive.
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Under the leadership of our Educational Coordinator, each child’s educational needs are carefully assessed and supported through individualized learning plans. We coordinate appropriate school placements that meet a wide range of needs, from traditional classroom settings to specialized day treatment programs. These placements address challenges such as emotional impairment, cognitive delays, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and developmental delays.
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To best serve our residents, we partner with Detroit Public Schools, other school district as needed and provide access to private and charter school options, including scholarship-supported placements when appropriate. This flexible approach allows us to meet each child where they are and support their unique learning journey.
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Our commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. Through enrichment opportunities like art therapy and music therapy, we promote creativity, self-expression, and overall well-being.
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Because learning doesn’t stop when school is out, we offer a comprehensive on-campus summer education and remediation program, helping students maintain progress, strengthen skills, and build confidence year-round.
Recreational Program:
At Christ Child House, recreation is more than just fun, it is an essential part of each boy’s healing and growth. Our programs are intentionally designed to blend enjoyment with therapeutic and educational value, helping youth build confidence, develop new skills, and form meaningful relationships.
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Residents participate in a wide range of activities that support their physical, emotional, and social development. These experiences include art and music therapy, animal-assisted activities, life skills workshops, and community outings. Trips to cultural landmarks such as the Charles H. Wright Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and Greenfield Village inspire curiosity and broaden perspectives, while activities like attending Detroit Lions and Tigers games, rock climbing, and ice skating at Campus Martius encourage teamwork, connection, and positive social engagement.
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One of the most meaningful highlights of the year is our summer camp program. In a natural, outdoor setting, boys take part in activities like hiking, boating, and campfire storytelling, experiences that foster independence, problem-solving, and self-expression while building a strong sense of camaraderie.
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With the support of our dedicated staff and generous donors, we thoughtfully design recreational opportunities that inspire creativity, strengthen resilience, and reinforce each child’s therapeutic progress. Through these experiences, our youth gain confidence, discover new interests, and continue moving forward, supported every step of the way by the Christ Child House community.
Are you interested in contributing to any of these programs?
Here are some ways you can donate: