HT: CHILDHELP RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES
to change a child’s life
CHILDHELP MERV GRIFFIN VILLAGE CHILDHELP ALICE C. TYLER VILLAGE
Spread across 121 rolling acres of green grass and mature
trees in Beaumont, California, the Childhelp Merv Griffin
Village has been dedicated to the full-time treatment of
abused, neglected, and at-risk children since 1978.
Offering an ideal environment for healing and growth,
the peaceful grounds are spacious and provide a safe
haven outside of the hustle and bustle of metro areas.
The Children’s Activity Center is a fully functional gymnasium,
with basketball, volleyball, a stage and electronic scoreboard,
but many of our Non-Public School students prefer to play
with the Adaptive Physical Education equipment specifically
designed to stimulate the senses and encourage development.
The Ranch is one of the most popular elements of this village,
with horses, ponies, goats, chickens and even a tortoise.
Children also enjoy a full library and computer lab, two
outdoor play areas with playground equipment, and 10
full-sized classrooms, including our autism program with
dedicated sensory space adjacent to the main campus.
Childhelp Merv Griffin Village houses up to 84 children
ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old. Serving as many as 67 boys and girls aged 5 to 14, Childhelp
Alice C. Tyler Village in Lignum, Virginia has provided a
safe, loving home environment for abused, neglected, and
at-risk children since 1993. The Village is situated on 270
acres of lush, inviting land and offers each child individualized
treatment and care to meet his or her unique needs. Children
who come to this village are referred to Childhelp by schools,
parents, nearby judicial authorities, and child welfare
offices — often arriving with severe emotional and behavioral
problems as a result of abusive or neglectful situations.
Our team of mental health professionals greets each child
upon arrival, ready to develop an individualized treatment
plan tailored to each child’s needs. While at the village,
children receive on-site clinical services provided by
Childhelp’s multi-disciplinary team under the direction of a
staff psychiatrist. The children learn to love themselves and
trust others through comprehensive treatment. This progress
offers a child the opportunity to move forward in a new
and healthier way. And while it is always sad to see a child
leave the village, each staff member strives to ensure they
experience the healing and growth needed to be discharged
to a less restrictive, positive placement.
R OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS, CHILDHELP MERV GRIFFIN VILLAGE
months to 200 days. But our success rate remains very
high. Over 94 percent of our children who graduated
in 2016 met or made significant progress towards their
treatment goals.
What do you see as common threads running
through the lives of abused children?
While every child’s experience of abuse is unique, the
commonality is that they’re all hurting. They all have
trauma that’s getting in the way of their development,
and they need parenting that is loving and respectful.
At Childhelp, we treat that trauma, teach them the
appropriate social skills that their parents didn’t
model, and help them grow in a safe environment
filled with love.
From a child’s perspective, what are the best
things about the Merv Griffin Village?
Most of our children come from urban areas, so the
ranch is always a big hit. But I think the best part
from a child’s perspective, even though they might not
use this word, is the stability. For example, some of
the young ones hide food under their bed when they
first arrive because they went hungry often enough to
learn to hoard. We show them that there will always
be a next meal, there will always be available snacks,
and if anyone is still hungry, there is always a bowl of
fresh fruit for snacks in between snacks. One of the
earliest signs of progress is when children stop
hoarding food because they truly understand that
they don’t need to anymore — because they’re safe,
they matter, and they’re surrounded by people who
truly care.
HOTLINE • 1-800-4-A-CHILD • CELEBRATING 35 YEARS
and the children we serve at www.childhelp.org.