At Boys and Girls Country, Teaching Parents are the heart of each cottage family. Teaching Parents are married couples or individuals who are responsible for the daily care of our children. They step in as parents for our children, helping the kids get ready for school, preparing breakfast, leading a daily devotion, preparing and serving dinner, helping students with homework, and so much more. Teaching Parents build trusting relationships with our students while teaching children life skills that support our kids’ success throughout their lives.
Boys and Girls Country utilizes the evidence-based Teaching Family model, which was developed in 1967 at the University of Kansas. The American Psychological Association (APA) has identified the Teaching Family Model as one of the few evidence-based residential treatment programs for at-risk children. Its success is rooted in the view that children’s behavior problems stem from a lack of interpersonal relationships and skills.
Teaching Parents live in the cottages – the children they care for are their only focus. They serve as role models, providing encouragement, accountability and support 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Before being placed in a cottage with children, Teaching Parents undergo 120 hours of training, compared to the 8 hours of training for guardians in the foster-care system.
Learn more about becoming a Teaching Parent here.