Girlstown is the oldest and most well-known program that Guiding Harbor offers, successfully serving over 1,000 adolescent females since inception.
The Girlstown program is an open Residential Program that offers therapeutic residential care for girls ranging from 10 to 18 years of age referred for emotional and/or behavioral problems that impact their ability to live in the community. We provided an array of services to the young ladies in our care, including: mental health, psychiatric services, routine and specialist medical care follow-up, education support, social and emotional skill building, independent living skills, healthy relationship development, etc.
At Girlstown, we believe vulnerable youth in care have a better chance of successful outcomes when they are supported through their trauma experiences in a therapeutic manner. Each young lady accepted for residential services received a highly concentrated and comprehensive individualized treatment program that is both client-centered and family focused. With the expertise of our program therapist, we focus on individual and group therapy, collaboratively identifying treatment goals from a client-centered approach so each young lady has a voice and choice within their treatment goals. The therapeutic treatment team consists of: Residential Program Manager, Residential Program Supervisor, Case Manager, Psychiatrist, Clinical Therapist, and Youth Specialist. Collectively, we strive to reunite families or identify new forever families for each young lady we are entrusted to care for through help, hope, and healing.
Girlstown is committed to providing our young ladies with the same life experiences as their peers. Our young ladies attend public schools, which assist in cultivating community relationships.
Girlstown was founded in 1958 and is located in Belleville, Michigan. Girlstown is a fully staffed open residential facility. There is a maximum capacity of 14 girls with Youth Specialists implementing programming. This setting allows the opportunity to develop or improve their independent living skills including budgeting, meal preparation, shopping, employability skills, and accessing resources and services with the community. In addition to assigned duties, each client is responsible for maintaining her own room and hygiene. In addition, staff assists the clients with their transition into a less restrictive community environment by integrating community outings and tasks in the schedule. The clients are able to earn various privileges including video games, free time, and outings off-campus, based upon positive behaviors exhibited on a daily basis.