Bellefaire's Intermediate Treatment Unit serves males and females, ages 11 through 18, who have severe social, emotional, and behavioral problems. These clients require the 24-hour care that only a full-time residential facility can provide.

The Intermediate Unit is an unlocked facility from which clients are able to leave for specialized services, such as education, psychotherapy, art, and recreation. Clients may leave for home visits on the weekends, and they may participate in activities in the community when it is part of their treatment process or transition back to community living.

Individualized Treatment Programs

Individualized treatment is multidisciplinary and centered on the complex needs of each client and his or her family.

Each client has an individualized service plan that addresses his or her acute crisis situation. All clients are seen by a psychiatrist within 72 hours of admission to assess medication needs.

A licensed supervisor completes an initial diagnostic assessment that guides future treatment planning. Clients attend group, individual, and family therapy, as appropriate. Treatment methods are tailored to the client's individual needs.

Treatment Program Durations

The average length of stay varies between 32 days to six months. Treatment may be shorter or longer based on the client's needs.

Clients receive educational services through an on-campus, special education program administered by the University Heights/Cleveland Heights school system. Routine medical and dental services are available at the on-grounds health clinic.

Step-Down Plans

Step-down planning for clients begins at the point of admission. It is the philosophy of residential care that our clients receive treatment in the least-restrictive setting. Our goal is to move each client into permanent living arrangements in the community. When this is not an option, we offer a number of step-down alternatives, including therapeutic foster care, transitional living, and independent living.

Clients returning to a family setting will receive intensive family therapy services to ensure success upon discharge. Clients who cannot return home can be enrolled in an approximate alternative Bellefaire JCB service, such as our Transitional or Independent Living Programs or our Foster Care and Adoption Program.

Contact with Primary Childcare Worker

Bellefaire's Intermediate Treatment Unit is staffed 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Each client is assigned to a primary childcare worker with whom he or she meets for at least one hour per week. These meetings address treatment goals, progress, and areas for improvement. Typically, the ratio of supervisors to childcare workers is 1:4. The ratio of childcare workers to clients is 1:3 during the morning and evening shifts and 1:6 during the night shift.

Emergency Care Provisions

A supervisor, nurse, and psychiatrist are on call 24 hours a day for emergencies. These staff members have pagers, and an on-call schedule listing all pager numbers is posted in each cottage.

Staffing Credentials

Unit supervisors are independently licensed. Cottage supervisors have varying educational backgrounds and licensures. A staff psychologist is also on the treatment team. Therapists are masters- or doctoral-level professionals with multiple years of experience. Most of our Child Care Workers and Youth Counselors have bachelor's degrees.

To learn more, call Intake Services at Bellefaire JCB.
Cleveland area: 216-320-8502
Toll free: 800-879-2522
Or email infoINTAKE@bellefairejcb.org