Congregate Care

Emergency Residence/ Intensive Emergency Residences (ER/ITR)

Emergency Residence/ Intensive Emergency Residence 

The Carol O. Schmidt Village and Winthrop Crossing, co-located at The Wetzel Center in Worcester, are 24/7 staffed, ER/IER (Emergency Residence/ Intensive Emergency Residence)  programs. These 12-bed, co-ed (ages 12-18), short-term programs, include 18 beds for ER/IER, where our primary goal is to prioritize a youth’s safety and stabilization. Our services are assessment-based to ensure that, beyond these placements, youth are transitioning to an appropriate placement that aligns with their individual and long-term permanency goals and supports a positive transition back into the community as quickly and safely as possible.  Seven Hills provides a variety of clinical services, offering individual, group, family, and recreational-based therapy. The program site includes multiple recreational, outdoor, and sensory-based environments to support a youth’s treatment success. We understand the importance of maintaining normalcy in a child's life. Every effort is made to ensure that a youth can continue attending their school of origin, stay connected to their existing community-based providers, and participate in regular activities, such as sports and after-school programs. All youth are referred to by the Department of Children and Families.

Oxford House - Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR)

The George Bernardin Oxford House is a 24/7 staffed, Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR) supporting adolescent males, ages 12-18, who have experienced significant adverse life events that have negatively impacted their functioning at home, school, and within the community. Oxford House provides a safe and structured environment in a traditional colonial home. Our programming and daily routines prioritize family and community involvement. The goal for our youth is to enhance their stability and reduce maladaptive behaviors, with a strong focus on reintegrating youth back into their natural settings. If youth are unable to return into their natural environments, we support their unique needs to prepare them for a transition to a lower level of care or independent living. 



Oxford House provides a comprehensive range of clinical and life skill development-based services. While a youth is in care at Oxford House, they participate in individual, group, and recreational based therapy. We further empathize exploring vocational and community integration opportunities to empower them towards self-sufficiency within their treatment and care.  All our youth attend community schools, maintain connections with their existing community-based providers, and engage in regular activities, including sports and after-school programs. Typically, youth remain in placement at Oxford House for around 9-12 months. All youth are referred to Oxford House for placement by the Department of Children and Families.

The Valor House - Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR)

The Valor House is a 24/7 staffed, Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR) supporting adolescent males, ages 12-18, who have faced substantial adverse life events, resulting in challenges in their functioning with their home, school, and community. Our primary focus is to support and empower our youth through a wide array of clinical and life-skill based services. At the Valor House we provide clinical services that include individual, group, and family therapy. Family therapy is an integral part of our approach, as we believe strengthening familial bonds and promoting healthy relationships allow for a more successful transition back to a youth’s natural environment and community. If in the case a youth is unable to return to their natural environment, we support their unique needs to prepare them for a transition to a lower level of care or independent living. 



The Valor House’s structured program ensures that each youth receives individualized treatment and guidance. Our programming prioritizes developing essential life skills and positive behaviors, setting the foundation for a successful and resilient future. Typically, youth remain in placement at the Valor House for around 9-12 months. All youth are referred for placement by the Department of Children and Families.

Grafton House - Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR)

The Nancy Joy Brown Grafton House is a 24/7 staffed Intensive Treatment Residence (ITR) supporting adolescent females, ages 12-18, who have encountered a range of life challenges that impact their functioning in their homes, schools, and communities. Grafton House provides a safe, structured, and nurturing environment in a traditional Victorian home, offering a holistic approach to treatment and growth. Our primary objective is to provide stability for these young women, empowering them to discover and cultivate their strengths, heal emotionally, and ultimately build a successful and productive future beyond their time at Grafton House. 



Our youth participate in weekly individual, group, and family therapy to support a positive transition back into their natural environment and community. If this isn’t feasible, we focus on equipping our youth with essential independent living skills to prepare them for a successful transition to adulthood. Residents attend school in the community, engage with their existing community-based providers, and, if desired, explore job opportunities, fostering a sense of independence and community integration. Youth typically remain in placement at Grafton House for around 9-12 months. All of our youth are referred to the Grafton House for placement by the Department of Children and Families. 

Young Parent Living Program

The Young Parent Living Program is a therapeutic, trauma-informed living environment designed to provide homeless young parents between the ages of 16 and 22 with a safe and supportive, although temporary, home to live in while they learn to care for themselves and their children. On-site residential counselors, shift supervisors, case manager, as well as program administration, provide supervision, training, support, and assistance 24/7. Staff at the Young Parent Living Program work with the residents to create comprehensive, strength-based treatment plans that reflect the residents’ current level of functioning and their service needs. Each resident, aided by program staff, strives to develop and prioritize vocational, educational, and personal objectives to accomplish the goals identified in the treatment plan.

The goal of the program is to assist each resident in securing permanent housing for themselves and their children. The program will help them develop and strengthen their parenting skills, interpersonal awareness, independent living skills, and self-confidence needed for them to succeed on their own in the community. In addition, the program provides resources and a knowledge base that includes an understanding of which agencies can provide ongoing support and the means to contact them.