In 2003, Youth Villages opened the Center for Intensive Residential Treatment, a 44,000-square-foot complex near the lake on Youth Villages' Bartlett Campus in Shelby County. The center provides intensive residential treatment for children and youth who must be treated in a closely supervised environment because they suffer from the most serious emotional and behavioral problems, such as suicidal or self-harming conditions, psychotic symptoms, sexual behavior problems and behavioral issues complicated by chronic medical problems.

The center offers:

• Immediate access. The center's design, four separate courtyards with a total of 62 beds, allows for flexible admission of both boys and girls between ages 8 and 17. The center accepts admissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Help for children and youth with intensive needs. The center is designed to help young people who suffer from the most challenging behaviors such as: suicidal and self-harming behaviors; aggressive behaviors that are the result of severe emotional problems; chronic runaway behaviors with high risk of harm to self or others; psychotic symptoms and behaviors; sexual behavior problems; and behavioral issues with co-occurring medical problems.
• A central role for families. At the center, families are supported in making changes that will ensure long-term success for the child and family at home. When possible, children will be returned home quickly with intensive in-home services, using the principles of the nationally recognized Multisystemic Therapy (MST) model.

The children's rooms are arranged around light-filled atriums and overlook the lake and surrounding woods.

Enclosed play areas are provided for outdoor and indoor recreation.

Children attend school in classrooms located within the center.

Treatment Components Include:

• Comprehensive child and family evaluation.
• 24-hour nursing care and close supervision by a child-and-adolescent psychiatrist.
• Group, individual, and family therapy with master's-level counselors and licensed mental health professionals.
• A highly structured environment with small groups of children focused on specific treatment needs.
• A 3:1 staff ratio, with staff specifically trained and assigned based on each child's needs.
• Children attend school at the center with curriculum modified according to the educational needs of each child.
• Related therapies -- speech, language, vocational, recreational -- are provided.