The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.

Clairefontaine Care Center supports adolescent boys, ages 7 to 17, who struggle with serious and persistent behavioral and emotional challenges. Many of the youth we serve have engaged in troubling patterns that put themselves and others at risk. These behaviors are often rooted in deep trauma, unmet emotional needs, and disrupted development.

These young people require more than structure—they need understanding, consistency, and a treatment approach that looks beyond the behavior to the person underneath. Many come from unstable or unsafe environments, and have difficulty forming healthy boundaries or managing emotions.

Clairefontaine provides a highly structured, therapeutic setting designed for youth who cannot safely remain in the community or in lower levels of care. Our team uses evidence-based assessments, individualized plans, and trauma-informed practices to help each resident move toward healing and accountability.

We believe in second chances. We believe in treating the whole person. And we believe that, with the right guidance, even the most troubled youth can move forward with dignity, responsibility, and hope.

Clairefontaine is a 24-hour, community-based residential treatment program designed for adolescent boys who require a high level of structure, support, and clinical care. While not a locked facility, Clairefontaine maintains a safe and secure environment through consistent staff supervision and relational accountability.

Our approach is deeply holistic. While we address the serious behavioral issues that bring youth to our care, we also focus on what helps them grow—emotionally, socially, and psychologically. Treatment includes support for trauma recovery, mental health, emotional regulation, and personal development. Many of our residents are working through difficult pasts, including their own experiences of victimization, and need a safe space to begin healing.

The heart of our program is about helping youth build a new path—one rooted in self-awareness, accountability, and hope. Through targeted therapy and daily structure, we help young people gain the insight, skills, and confidence to move forward with purpose and integrity.

Clairefontaine’s treatment model is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and emphasizes practical, real-life skills: decision-making, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and relationship building. Our curriculum is designed for youth with moderate to high treatment needs and is delivered in a way that encourages active participation and long-term growth.

In addition, we offer trauma-informed care tailored to each youth’s unique experiences. Many of the boys in our program have unresolved trauma, and our therapeutic approach includes sensory-based interventions and emotional processing designed to support their healing journeys. By separating trauma work from behavioral accountability, we help youth rebuild their identity and learn to navigate life with a renewed sense of self-worth and emotional resilience.

At Clairefontaine, we don’t just manage behavior—we invest in transformation. Because every young person deserves the chance to heal, grow, and become someone they’re proud to be.

Clairefontaine provides targeted, trauma-informed therapy for adolescent boys requiring intensive behavioral and emotional support. Our structured treatment approach includes:

Core Therapeutic Services

• Individual Therapy – Weekly sessions focused on accountability, emotional regulation, and personal growth
• Group Therapy – Peer-supported discussions and skill-building
• Family Therapy – Rebuilding healthy family dynamics and communication

Clinical & Educational Components

• Psychoeducation – Healthy relationships, boundaries, identity, and emotional awareness
• Life & Social Skills Training – Daily living, problem-solving, and      community functioning
• Psychological & Psychiatric Services – Evaluations, testing, and medication management as appropriate

Risk & Treatment Planning

• Comprehensive clinical assessments and individualized treatment plans
• Risk evaluation tools to guide therapeutic focus and supervision levels

Program Goals

• Address underlying behavioral and emotional challenges
• Strengthen coping, self-regulation, and social-emotional competencies
• Support a return to a healthy developmental path
• Equip youth to meet their needs in safe, constructive ways

Clairefontaine’s goal is to help youth gain the skills, insight, and resilience needed to lead safe, healthy, and meaningful lives. 

 Clairefontaine operates staff-secure, community-based treatment facilities on a residential campus. Youth are supervised 24/7, with structured routines and consistent behavioral supports that emphasize accountability, safety, and emotional stability.

Key Program Features

• Education – Accredited public school tailored to individual learning needs
• 24-Hour Supervision – Staff-secured environment focused on safety and stability
• Clinical Services – On-site access to licensed psychological and psychiatric professionals
• Behavioral Support – Structured level systems to encourage growth and responsibility

Integrated Therapeutic Model

Residents receive comprehensive clinical services, including:

• Individual, Family, and Group Therapy
• Recreational and Experiential Therapy
• Therapeutic Milieu – A healing, structured community environment

Clairefontaine’s program is designed for young people who require intensive, specialized care. Our focused group model creates a peer environment that supports shared experiences and targeted interventions, something not possible in traditional or non-specialized residential settings.  

The average length of stay at Clairefontaine Care Center ranges from 12 to 18 months, followed by 6 to 12 months of continued care or step-down support, as needed. Treatment duration is individualized and based on clinical progress, not a fixed timeline.

Transition & Progress Criteria

Youth may transition to a lower level of care earlier if they demonstrate:

• Achievement of individualized treatment goals
• Consistent cooperation and engagement in therapy
• Increased emotional regulation and personal accountability
• Observable behavioral change and healthy decision-making

If sufficient progress is not made, a referral to a more intensive level of care may be recommended to ensure safety and continued treatment success.

Clairefontaine is committed to providing the right level of care for each youth, for as long as needed to support meaningful, lasting change.