Elm Acres
Youth Residential Services

Elm Acres, a Program of DCCCA, Inc. operates boys and girls youth residential programs, located in Pittsburg, Kansas. Fourteen girls reside in the south house and eighteen boys live in the north house, on the Pittsburg campus.  Elm Acres provides 90 to 150-day residential services for youth ages 12 -18 that have been placed in the state’s custody for temporary out of home placement.  Youth receiving these services are identified by the courts as Children In Need of Care or Juvenile Offenders, who are in need of behavioral management services to improve their mental and social adjustment.  In addition to being provided a variety of therapeutic and educational activities, youth are held responsible for their behavior through a behavioral management program and the application of consequences.  It is our goal to help the residents make responsible life choices rather than to behave impulsively.  Individual program plans are developed for each youth and a system of cognitive behavioral approaches are applied to assist youth in learning new behaviors.  The residents’ progress is evaluated by tracking outcomes and improvement in their behavior, academics, social and life skills.

The residential living setting provides a comfortable living environment, recreation, medical care and a school setting to meet the needs of the youth.  Youth receive daily instruction on appropriate communication, home management skills including chore instruction, cooking, nutrition, physical health and wellness.  Situational guidance is provided for problem solving, cognitive restructuring, and goal setting.  The residents receive educational services provided by the local school district or attend GED classes through the Pittsburg Adult Education Center.

Elm Acres Residential Services have been in existence since 1955 to help children and families.  Although much has changed over the years, Elm Acres goal is to teach young people that behavior has consequences for themselves and others and that they are responsible for their thoughts, feelings and behavior.   In 1957, Elm Acres began its’ longstanding affiliation with United Way that continues to this day.  

United Way and other community partnerships including caring individuals and organizations, continue to be the strength of our delivery of services and successful outcomes for youth and families.  Communities have an important stake in the success of our program, as without these services, youth are at high risk to become adult consumers of tax-supported services.  Everyone in the community benefits if our services can assist youth in achieving their goal of making good choices and becoming productive citizens. In the past year Elm Acres has provided services to 300 boys and girls helping them attain their outcomes of making better decisions and improving their behavior to successfully transition back to their family, school and community.