About Us

Northeast Center reaches more than 600 children and adolescents each year through child-centered, family-friendly, effective, therapeutic and educational programs.

This is Northeast Center for Youth and Families

The right care at the right time
When children are the victims of neglect and abuse or suffer from mental illness, they may behave impulsively and have difficulty bonding with adults and peers. Kids with emotional and behavioral issues often are in need of training in self-discipline, interpersonal relations, pro-social coping strategies, and trust.
     Although our kids may share similar stories, the way we reach each one is unique. What distinguishes Northeast Center is our continuum of services designed to meet the distinct needs of each child. From a variety of group or foster care homes to educational programs and family stabilization services, we are able to place kids in the least-restrictive and most appropriate setting, and provide the supports best suited to their current needs.
     For example, a state agency may refer to us an adolescent with long-standing emotional and behavioral difficulties who has not been successful in the traditional foster care system. He or she may require the safety and structured environment of one of our group care residences and may also attend our high school, staffed by teachers and specialists certified in special education. With 12 months of consistent counseling and building academic and life skills, the adolescent is often ready to rejoin his or her family or "step-down" to one of our therapeutic foster homes.

It takes a team to reach a child
At the heart of this concerted continuum of care is Northeast Center's team of caring staff. Our organization's very structure helps children succeed. We strive to bring "seamlessness" to their complex treatment programs, which often encompass multiple services and providers. Our psychiatric, clinical/case management, nursing, teaching, residential, and other specialist staff follow each child's case carefully, even as he or she moves within different services and facilities. Our ever-vigilant teams monitor medication, teach kids how to manage their behavior, and re-acclimate them to the larger community.
     We wholeheartedly recognize that families are essential members of the recovery team. We involve families in the treatment process and coach parents and guardians about the support their kids will need in the future.

A team of pragmatic idealists
Northeast Center has long been known for its advocacy on behalf of children and families—not surprising given our roots in the social reform movement of the early 1970s. Northeast Center embraced the ideals of compassionate and community-based care, becoming a leader in the movement. We believed then, and still do today, that everyone should have another chance to improve their lives, especially children and families.
     The counseling and teaching we do today have grown out of the experience and commitment our staff has always demonstrated. Our close-knit team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, special education teachers, residential counselors and many specialists.
      Northeast Center collaborates often and effectively with other organizations and practitioners in the best interests of the child. Our financially strong and stable organization efficiently manages care. Our spectrum of integrated services allows us to operate a cost-effective, well-coordinated, yet flexible service system.

A short time to create lifelong change
Our goal is to help children become and see themselves as productive, responsible members of society. Our approach both compassionate and practical is to help them modify and direct their behavior. Our cognitive-behavioral, psycho-educational treatment model helps build skills in problem-solving and socialization; it helps children learn realistic ways to change self-defeating thoughts and, ultimately, destructive behavior.
     In all our programs, we aspire to make children feel as normal as possible. During their stay in our small home-like residences, kids play, listen to music, enjoy family-style meals, go to baseball games, celebrate holidays, and participate in diverse cultural activities. Often for the first time, they learn how to take care of themselves; adolescents plan meals and cook, balance a checkbook, and create a budget. Because our goal is always to help kids successfully rejoin their families, schools, and communities, we begin planning their re-entry the moment they step through our doors.