Residential Care
Raintree Village uses a proven Residential Care approach to provide troubled youth with healing, belonging, and direction.
When necessary, State officials must make the difficult decision to remove a child or teen from their family. When a relative is not ready or available to provide a new home, they look to foster parents to care for the child. If a foster home is not available—or a child has specialized treatment needs—they may choose a group home to provide care and support.
That’s where we come in. That’s why we exist.
When brought to our 20-acre campus in Dasher, GA, children live in homes (cottages). The rural setting usually offers a dramatic change from where the kids are coming from. The calm, peaceful atmosphere aids the healing process.
Each home is supervised by trained house parents who provide daily care, guidance, and structure for each child. As committed Christians, the parents lead with a genuine love for the kids. They create a place of belonging.
The following elements form the pillars of our strong residential care program:
STAFF
In addition to house parents, licensed counselors and therapists are available to help the kids. They play a vital role in promoting mental health, emotional well-being, and positive behavior change. Their expertise, compassion, and dedication contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment where the children and teens can heal, grow, and thrive.
Our staff is knowledgeable and experienced. They participate in annual continuing education. The entire Raintree staff is trained in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention.
We operate as a licensed Maximum Watchful Oversight facility. We are equipped to work with youth who demonstrate serious to severe emotional and/or behavioral management problems. We address behaviors exhibited by a child that interfere with his or her ability to function in the family, school, and/or community outside of a supervised and structured setting.
FACILITIES
Four cottages form the core of our Residential Care. Each one becomes the new home to the youth seeking a place to heal and belong.
Our campus also includes a gymnasium, pond, multi-purpose building, and administration building. Our facilities and property provide fun opportunities for the kids to play, explore, and grow.
BIBLE TEACHING
As a faith-based organization affiliated with the Church of Christ, Biblical values form the foundation of everything we do. Our staff put their faith into action, living as godly examples to the kids.
House parents take all the kids in their cottage to Bible classes and worship services on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings at local congregations. For many youth in our care, this is a new experience. They meet caring Christians, learn of God’s unconditional love for them, and understand the value of following God’s Word. The teens also get to participate with the church youth group.
Additionally, house parents lead in-cottage Bible studies, and campus-wide devotionals are held monthly.
Our Statement of Faith describes our core beliefs.
EDUCATION
All school-age children attend Lowndes County public schools. They also participate in Raintree’s daily after-school Tutorial Program. The children’s tutor visits biweekly with each of their teachers to check on progress and address any academic concerns.
When high school students come to campus, one of our goals is to keep them in school and prepare them to graduate. We provide them with weekly specialized tutoring and work closely with the local school system and individual teachers. High schoolers also get an opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities such as band, chorus, ROTC, and sports.
LIFE SKILLS & EMPLOYMENT
Most of the young people who come to us are headed down a difficult path. We point them in a better direction by helping them develop Individual Life Skills Plans. This process details goals for each child and a plan to achieve those goals. Eligible teens can receive vocational training and are provided with opportunities to seek, obtain, and maintain employment.
This element of our Residential Care helps them see the value of positive choices and envision a better future.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
