Christ Child House
Christ Child House has been owned and operated by CCSD since 1948. The facility, now located on a two acre campus in Detroit, Michigan, is a sophisticated, state-licensed, residential treatment center, which can accommodate up to 31 boys ages 6 through 16. Many of the boys suffer the traumatic emotional scars of physical abuse or severe neglect. Licensed by the State of Michigan and nationally accredited by the prestigious Council of Accreditation of Services for Families and Children (COA), the House provides services to boys of every race, creed and national origin. Children stay in care an average of 13 months, depending upon their individual treatment needs. Currently about three quarters of the boys in care are permanent wards of the state.
The severity of the boys’ problems requires the skills of a highly trained professional staff. This team, which includes youth specialists, clinical therapists, recreational and educational staff and a registered nurse, creates a highly structured treatment plan for each child to help rebuild his life. The House team has grown to 60 full and part-time staff, whose work is supported by that of many active volunteers from both within and beyond the Society. After intensive individual and family therapy, many children are able to return to their homes, but increasingly the total breakdown of family precludes a child’s return. In these cases the House looks for loving adoptive homes, and its comprehensive adoption program strives to build a strong and loving bond between the child and his new family. From pre-placement through the first 12 months of placement, counseling and support are available 24/7 to aid in a successful transition. In 2015, the House discharged 16 youth, and 15 of them moved into family settings. We have now placed over 80 youths in adoptive homes over the past 20 years. |
Maria Lessnau Executive Director Christ Child House |