Frequently Asked Questions
Youth Essential Services is a single-family residential Group home. The program promotes positive mentorship and guidance to (11-17 yrs old) male youths, transitioning to foster care or adoption. The Pennsylvania Department of Health comprehensively regulates the program. The program requires state auditing and licensing by the Department of Health, including approval of all policies, regulations, and on-site inspection before issuance of a license.
Employee qualifications are extensive, including a Pennsylvania State and Federal Background Clearence (FBI) and mandated child care programs. All employees are CPR, First Aid and AED Certified. Staffing is maintained at a minimum of a two to one ratio, exceeding state and federal requirements. A qualified and certified supervisor is available 24/7 with a required bachelor's degree and 15 years of experience, exceeding the 5-year requirement designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
YES is a four-bedroom family group home where children do day-to-day activities like any other child with positive mentorship, transitioning to foster care, and or approved guardianship as a person under 18.
The purpose of a 3800-licensed child group home is to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in Children and Youth Services (CYS) care. YES serves youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are functioning individuals with co-occurring mental health or behavioral needs, requiring structured social skills development and peer interaction support.
YES, is not a facility for high-risk or extreme-acuity cases. Instead, it supports children who need structured encouragement, mentoring, and a nurturing environment. The home fosters a sense of stability, social belonging, and positive reinforcement, elements that may have been missing from their previous living situations. YES, is not designed for and does not provide services to non-ambulatory, non-verbal or medically fragile youth.
YES has identified a national need for essential Critical Support personnel. These highly trained specialists are provided exclusively by Echelon Protection, LLC. Echelon is equipped with extensive certifications and clearances to assist at-risk youth in Children and Youth Services (CYS) care. These professionals undergo rigorous screening and training, ensuring they meet and exceed regulatory standards, including:
– State & FBI Criminal Background Clearances
– Mandated Child Abuse Clearance & Mandated Reporter Training
– Safe Crisis Management Training & Certification
– First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
– Homeland Security Fingerprint Clearance (3800 Regulations)
– Communicable Disease Testing & Physician Statement (Certifying Free of Communicable Disease)
YES provides flexible “at need” care for an average duration of two weeks to several months, as residents typically transition to foster care, placement with a family member, or permanent residency. YES maintains a waiting list for future placements.
During sleeping hours, Critical Support personnel will be stationed in the upstairs bedroom hallways to maintain supervision/oversight.
The entire property is monitored by video surveillance, except for designated privacy areas. Surveillance footage is stored securely in the cloud for 90 days, as outlined in the YES Operations Manual, which has been inspected and approved by the Department of Human Services and Children & Youth.
Yes, Critical Support Personnel have direct access to youth as an integral part of the behavioral support and mentorship program. Critical Supports are highly specialized professionals trained in structured interventions, crisis de-escalation, and behavioral management to safeguard the well-being of youth in the care of Children and Youth. Their presence is intentionally non-uniformed to create a supportive, therapeutic environment that prioritizes engagement, trust, and compliance with DHS regulations. This strategic classification ensures that Critical Support Personnel possess the necessary qualifications, specialized training, and oversight to provide effective, individualized support while maintaining a proactive approach to safety and structured supervision. Their role enhances youth well-being through mentorship and intervention strategies that align with best practices in child welfare. By integrating therapeutic methodologies with operational safeguards, Critical Support Personnel upholds a consistent and compliant model of care, reinforcing a secure, structured, and developmentally appropriate environment for the youth in residence.
The YES “house mom,” and Treatment Director, resides on-site and oversees the coordination of all childcare programs, including case management with Children and Youth. She is the primary caregiver responsible for ensuring compliance with 3800 Regulations and the welfare of each child’s treatment plan. Additionally, Lenora supervises all Child Care Specialists and is primarily responsible for administering medications to the children in care.
