Specialized Residential Programs

Address:  20651 W. Warren, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
Phone: (313) 271-3050    Fax:  (313) 271-6250

Contact Person:  Jackie Cuschieri, Intake Supervisor

Email: jcuschieri@vistamaria.org

Focus of Program: Our residential programs offer essential residential treatment for victimized girls ages 11-17. All treatment programs to meet each girl's individual needs.  These programs include intensive treatment for mental health issues, trauma recovery, substance abuse and psychosocial issues.  Other residential treatment support services include a health clinic, an on-site strict disciplinary academy (charter school) operated by the Clara B. Ford Academy, a large cafeteria, recreational facilities, meeting rooms, a chapel, and administrative offices.  We are not able to accept private referrals.

Our Mental Health Continuum of Care Includes:

• Unity: As part of our continuum of specialized residential mental health care.  Unity is a medium-secure, intensive program for girls who require brief psychiatric stabilization.  A two to four-month program, Unity prepares girls for a less intensive treatment setting, such as our Special Care and Bridges programs.
• Special Care: A medium-secure, specialty mental health program that helps adolescent girls successfully manage sub-acute psychiatric conditions so they may continue normal growth and development.  Girls in this program my be treated with psychotropic mediation and be under the care of a psychiatrist.  Therapeutic services are intensive and highly individualized.
• Mental Health Substance Abuse: A medium secure intensive preventative mental health substance abuse treatment program that is designed to address a youth population that is experiencing severe emotional and behavioral instability due to a variety of psychological and psychiatric issues, in addition to having a high risk for substance abuse due to a family history and/or early experimentation with substances.
• Cognitive Impairment: A medium secure intensive mental health program to address girls with significant adjustment problems at home, school and in the community as a result of serious emotional disturbance concurrent with cognitive impairments.
• Bridges: In this low secure, open program our girls focus on family and community reintegration while continuing to receive psychiatric services.  Girls may be referred directly to Bridges, or may be admitted as part of a step-down treatment plan from our Special Care or other programs.  As with all of our mental health programs, full educational and recreational programming are included.

Intensive Trauma Recovery Program (Grace): A trauma recovery program designed to help adolescent girls cope with issues associated with abuse, neglect, or exploitation.  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and other serious emotional conditions are treated via this individual, group, and family therapy.  Girls in this medium secure program typically remain in it for 9 months.

Substance Abuse and Aggressive Behavior Program (Girls Care): A medium-secure, licensed treatment program for substance abuse and aggressive behavior.  Staff are trained in the complexities of substance abuse treatment for girls.  A variety of treatment modalities are used to assist girls to overcome addictive and aggressive behavior, remain substance free, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Community Re-integration and Respite Program (Vision): A short-term, open program that helps adolescent girls to prepare to enter independent Living or trturn to their family or transition to an alternate community placement.  When family reunification is possible, all efforts are focused toward this goal.

Good Shepherd Center: A short-term residential detention program for pre-adjudicated and adjudicated adolescent girls who are referred through the Wayne County Juvenile Assessment Center.  Clients are awaiting placement in an appropriate residential or community-based program.