Waco Center for Youth
Waco, TX

Founded

1979

Program Length

30 days

Focus

At this center, you receive personalized care for mental health conditions. They provide therapy and tailor treatment to your unique needs, diagnoses, and preferences.

The Waco Center for Youth is a residential treatment facility in Texas that serves adolescents aged 13 to 17 with severe emotional or behavioral challenges. Operated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the center provides a range of services including individual, family, and group therapy, medication management, medical services, therapeutic recreation, and educational instruction through a partnership with Axtell Independent School District. Additional offerings include an equine program, social and self-regulation skills training, dietary support, spiritual services, and aftercare planning. The center uses a strength-based treatment model, which focuses on youth’s strengths and teaches new skills as needed. Its treatment approach is guided by five core values: Helping, Healing, Relationship, Responsibility, and Commitment. Adolescents live on campus while receiving care and attend school on-site. Educational staff work with students who come from across the state, addressing both academic needs and behavioral or emotional issues. Waco Center for Youth also implements a behavior incentive system, where clients earn stars for meeting daily goals related to school, therapy, and programming. These stars can be exchanged for items at an on-campus store called The CeNTER. Admission to the facility requires that a legal guardian initiate the process, with referrals accepted from local mental health authorities, state hospitals, or Child Protective Services. Applicants must meet specific criteria, including age, psychiatric diagnosis, and documented behavioral difficulties in at least two settings.

Waco Center for Youth
Waco Center for Youth
Waco Center for Youth
Waco Center for Youth

Services

Key offerings grouped by category

Type of Care

Mental health treatment Treatment for co-occurring substance use plus either serious mental health illness in adults/serious emotional disturbance in children

Service Setting (e.g., Outpatient, Residential, Inpatient, etc.)

Residential/24-hour residential

Facility Type

Residential treatment center (RTC) for children

Pharmacotherapies

Antipsychotics used in treatment of SMI

Treatment Approaches

Activity therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy Couples/family therapy Dialectical behavior therapy Group therapy Individual psychotherapy Telemedicine/telehealth therapy Abnormal involuntary movement scale

Emergency Mental Health Services

Crisis intervention team

Facility Operation (e.g., Private, Public)

State government

Payment/Insurance/Funding Accepted

Other State funds Private health insurance Cash or self-payment State mental health agency (or equivalent) funds State welfare or child and family services funds

Special Programs/Groups Offered

Clients who have experienced trauma Persons with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED)

Assessment/Pre-treatment

Screening for tobacco use

Testing

HIV testing STD testing TB screening Metabolic syndrome monitoring Laboratory testing

Facility Smoking Policy

Smoking not permitted

Age Groups Accepted

Children/Adolescents

Facility Vaping Policy

Vaping not permitted

Ancillary Services

Diet and exercise counseling Family psychoeducation Case management service Education services

Contact Information

Address

3501 North 19th Street, Waco, TX, 76708

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