Building Relationships, Changing Lives
Hillview Acres takes pride in providing a warm, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for children who are unable to remain in their own homes.
The uniqueness of the Hillview Acres program lies in its relational focus. Through relationship, the Hillview staff helps hurting children regain trust in adults, grow in self-esteem, and replace fear-based behaviors with healthier ones. This special approach to residential care was pioneered by our Program Director in the 1970s; we call it the “Relationship Impact Model,” or “RIM.”
A Place for Kids
The painful realities of abuse and neglect cause some children to grow up too fast. At Hillview Acres, we are intentional about letting kids be kids. Laughter and play are critical aspects of our program, and their therapeutic benefits are immeasurable. A child can bond with adults, grow in confidence, reclaim normal development, and create valuable childhood memories through experiencing fun activities and playful, daily interactions.
A Place for Comfort
Hillview uses live-in childcare staff, and this also supports our RIM approach. Each cottage houses 6-10 children and approximately 3 trained residential counselors. Several additional childcare workers reside in on-campus housing. This staffing arrangement creates a comfortable, family-like environment that encourages relationship building and feels safe to the children.
A Place to Heal
The childcare staff works with Hillview’s expert team of social workers, counselors, psychologists, and a psychiatrist to help promote emotional healing and growth within each child. Children receive weekly therapy, and psychological testing is performed every six months. A revolutionary client data tracking system helps the staff assess issues of risk, growth, and service needs. Children who are determined to be “higher risk” are linked with a Therapeutic Behavior Specialist (TBS), a trained individual who uses one-on-one time and counseling sessions to help stabilize the placement.