Children's Program

The responsibility to choose a future for a child is a momentous decision. For generations, Presbyterian Homes & Family Services has been a sanctuary for children in need, providing them with a future they never imagined possible.   

Children come to Presbyterian Homes & Family Services because their families cannot take care of them; because they have been in foster homes and it didn’t work; because of family illness or incarceration; because of abuse and neglect.  The reasons are varied, but the need is immediate and real.  When children come, they receive professional help, loving care and opportunities to grow and learn. 

WHAT IS THERAPEUTIC AFTER SCHOOL?

The Therapeutic After School Program (TAS) is based on the Lynchburg Campus of Presbyterian Homes & Family Services, Dewitt Cottage.  TAS provides local youth aged 5-17 with a community-based after school treatment environment.  The program offers a therapeutic milieu with education support, therapy and psychoeducational groups, recreation and social skill building activities as well as individualized treatment planning.  TAS clients are referred by multiple sources in the community and funded by Medicaid.  For many of the participating youth, TAS serves as an alternative to out-of-home placement.  For others, the program serves as a crucial step in the process of rejoining their families.  TAS offers family events and activities as a way of involving families in the youth's lives and treatment.

Therapeutic recreational activites allow children to express themselves and learn a variety of skills and competencies.  For example, a simple game can tackle social skills, communication and anger management, while simultaneously building self-esteem, enhancing social skills, increasing positive peer interactions and validating each individual.

Some of our therapeutic services include:

Art therapy

Individual and family therapy

Recreation therapy - swimming, sports, cooking, gardening, music, dance

Gang prevention

Anger management

Conflict resolution

Presbyterian Homes & Family Services has a conditional license to provide a Therapeutic After School Program for males and females, ages 5-17.  We are now accepting referrals for this Medicaid program, with no waiting list.  Daily transportation is provided from school to the program and to the child's residence.  If you know of any school age adolescent who could benefit from this program, Monday through Friday, 3:00pm - 7:00pm, please make a referral today by contacting Amy Beatson, 434-384-3131 ext. 3637.

THERAPEUTIC FOSTER PARENTS: Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child or teenager? Presbyterian Homes & Family Services is looking for families willing to open their homes and hearts to a child.  PHFS has applied for a state license to be a Therapeutic Foster Care Child Placing Agency and are accepting letters of interest for families interested in learning more about becoming a Therapeutic Foster Parent.  For more information please submit a letter of interest to 150 Linden Avenue, Lynchburg VA, 24503.

For Referral Sources:  
Presbyterian Homes & Family Services enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most sought after providers of specialized residential services for children in Virginia. Why?

Our streamlined admissions process is a strong advantage for social service, school, court and other placement agencies. We provide you with a single point of entry for all programs within a continuum of care. Our client to staff ratio is outstanding in assuring quality care.

We come to your location for pre-admission interviews and evaluations. We are equipped to help you meet the challenges of children and adolescents with serious emotional, behavioral, social and learning disorders.

Our continuum of care encourages movement to less restrictive settings as rapidly as possible to assure the most appropriate treatment and care for the individual child.

Our recreational programs offer girls and boys a variety of sports and activities, including bike riding, hiking and swimming. These very popular programs channel the energies of youth while building self-esteem, morale and a sense of team cooperation and mutual respect. The beauty of our campus environments and the large amount of open space per student encourages all children to relax, play and grow in a beautiful and serene natural setting.

Our unique leadership experience is based on a bedrock of Christian values. For five generations -- 100⁺ years -- Presbyterian Homes & Family Services has been meeting the residential needs of children across the Commonwealth. From our first program on a farm in Lynchburg, we’ve developed a wide array of services to help families who are unable to provide adequate care for their children. For ten decades, we’ve adapted our service and ministry to children to meet the changing needs of their families. Today, we serve children from all over Virginia at our spacious campus in Lynchburg.

Our deeply rooted commitment to Christ and the Church. We are a ministry of healing and nurturing and encouragement to help every child reach his or her God-given potential. We work in close partnership with church and community resources to help meet all the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of every child entrusted to our care.

A dedicated, highly experienced professional staff. We take great pride in the professional training and depth of experience in our distinguished staff. Continuing education and in-house staff trainings keep our people at the front edge of developments in child mental health. But even more important than professional training and seasoned experience is the willingness of staff to serve every child in a spirit of unconditional love and acceptance.

An environment of love, shared participation and a strong feeling of community. Often, parents or referring agencies comment on our “home-like” atmosphere. We realize children often require specialized options and many choices, so we provide four distinct school environments to meet differing needs of girls and boys. Our children participate in public school sports and other after school programs, as well as in the life of the community beyond our campus.

To learn more about how we can serve your needs, please call us at 800-881-0087.

We are licensed by Virginia Department of Social Services, and Virginia Department of Mental Health.

Accredited by Virginia Association of Independent Special Education Facilities.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability and retaliation. If you require information about this program, activity, or facility in a language other than English, contact the USDA agency responsible for the program or activity, or any USDA office. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free 866-632-9992 (Voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal Relay at 800-877-8339 (TDD) or 866-377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to serving you.