Our dually-licensed homes combine the benefits of short-term shelter and longer-term group care to provide both immediate and extended services for youth. Shelter care (up to 30 days) focuses on safety and crisis intervention, while group care (over 30 days) supports youth in reaching long-term goals and sustained behavioral stabilization. We operate two of these homes, the Flathead Youth Home in Kalispell and the Margaret Stuart Youth Home in Helena, to meet the unique needs of each community.
Our Approach
- Crisis Resolution: Address and resolve the issues that caused a breakdown in the youth’s previous setting.
- Strength-Based Support: Empower youth to make meaningful progress in their lives through a strengths-focused approach.
- Family Connection: Help youth maintain strong, supportive family relationships.
- Community Integration: Our homes are located within neighborhoods, allowing access to local resources.
- Structured Daily Program: Youth earn privileges based on positive behavior, social skill development, and personal responsibility.
- Community Services Access: Youth have access to essential services, including education, employment, recreation, cultural programs, therapy, and healthcare.
- Cultural Competency: Each youth receives a multi-ethnic identity assessment to support cultural identity development.
- Safety Priority: Ensure safety for both the youth and those around them.
- Counseling and Group Work: Provide individual counseling and group sessions to build skills and improve communication.
- Expanded Case Planning: For youth transitioning to long-term care, we expand the case plan to address their evolving needs.
- Experienced Leadership: Our full-time Program Director leads the program, guiding staff and overseeing case plans.
- Dedicated, Skilled Staff: Our compassionate and well-trained team works in a 1:4 staff-to-youth ratio, providing 24-hour supervision.
- Home Management: A Home Manager oversees daily operations to ensure a comfortable, home-like environment.
Ages Served
We are licensed to serve youth ages 10 to 17.
Admission Criteria
We welcome youth who:
- Are in crisis, have concerns about home safety or stability, or are awaiting a longer-term placement
- Are at risk of homelessness
- Need protective care during a Child Welfare investigation of abuse
Referrals are accepted from agencies, family members, and youth themselves, or for those eligible for shelter care under the Federal Runaway Basic Center Program. All youth must have health insurance coverage.
Program Limitations
Youth may not be suitable for placement if they pose a significant threat to themselves, others, or the community, or if their needs exceed the level of care we can provide.
Criteria for Long-Term Placement
Youth are eligible for our long-term program if they:
- Meet the above criteria for admission
- Have a transitional plan to support a successful placement beyond the group home
- Have goals for transitioning that are achievable within the program’s timeframe
- Require the structure provided by our program to stabilize before moving to a permanent placement
- Are able to engage successfully within the community and in an open setting
- Have no other appropriate or available placement options
Contact for a referral or further information:
Josephine Lange
Intake Coordinator/Case Manager
jlange@youthhomesmt.org
(406) 552-8833
Flathead Youth Home – Kalispell, MT
Lori Madden, SWLC, Program Director
lmadden@youthhomesmt.org
(406) 755-4622
The Margaret Stuart Youth Home – Helena, MT
Colleen Rivers, Program Director
crivers@youthhomesmt.org
(406) 449-3038
