Children & Teens

Scattered throughout Elgin are places where worn and tattered lives are blossoming with hope. The Residential Program has helped thousands of children. Children who are victims of abuse often suffer emotional or behavioral effects that last long after the physical scars heal. Current research even suggests that the brain development of abused children is different from other children, making it more difficult for them to form positive relationships later in life. Experts agree that children who come from violent environments are more likely to be violent adults. Formerly abused children need a nurturing environment to break this cycle of violence. This environment must show children that they are wanted, needed and loved. The Larkin Center provides such an environment in their group homes. One of Larkin’s group homes specializes in the care of sexually problematic boys, and the remaining five house abused children, aged six to eighteen. A comfortable and well-maintained environment gives a message that the child is important and enables them to feel better about themselves.

At any given time under Larkin's care, as many as 52 children and teens, ages 6 to 17, are learning how to deal with the past events of their lives and to enjoy life again as a kid. Under the direction of Diane Roche, Linda Hamann and a multitude of Larkin residential staff members and therapists, clients learn basic living skills and how to operate in a group environment. The goal is to prepare clients for a permanent living situation such as reuniting with their family, becoming adopted or uniting with a foster care family.

Larkin operates four group homes for boys, including a larger 12-bed facility for those suffering from severe emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges mostly due to sexual abuse and two group homes for girls. While length of residency varies, an average client will stay in a group home for 18 to 24 months. Monitored around the clock by a supervisor, an assistant and childcare workers, clients are offered a structured routine and receive rewards for good behavior, such as completing household tasks and cooperating with staff and other group home members. Staff from Larkin's clinical and activity therapy teams are assigned to each resident and develop customized plans.

"What we're trying to do is give clients a sense of self-worth," says Roche, program director and 12-year Larkin employee. "We set up situations for clients to learn how to live and how to behave in the type of situation they're going into."

Program highlights include the following:

• Representatives from Larkin's admissions, clinical, residential and education teams review client applications. Candidates - most of whom are in the care of the state of Illinois -- are chosen based on openings and their ability to succeed in a specified group home.
• Larkin operates four group homes for boys, including a larger 12-bed facility for those suffering from severe emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges mostly due to sexual abuse. Two group homes are for girls. While length of residency varies, an average client will stay in a group home for 18 to 24 months. Monitored around the clock by a supervisor, an assistant and childcare workers, clients are offered a structured routine and receive rewards for good behavior, such as completing household tasks and cooperating with staff and other group home members. Staff from Larkin's clinical and activity therapy teams are assigned to each resident and develop customized plans.
• Depending on their abilities and behavior, clients attend a public school near their group home or the agency's special education school. Evenings in group homes are spent helping prepare dinner with staff, cleaning up, doing homework, participating in life skills groups and preparing for the next day. Weekends are devoted to visiting with family, spending time alone or doing group activities. Weekend staff prepares most meals.