What We Do: Applying for Residential Care

Young girl scratching a cat.The first step toward applying for residential care is to learn about our services. PCHAS offers two types of residential care: group homes and foster homes. All residential programs provide services to youth through high school graduation.

Please note that PCHAS does not take legal custody of any children in care. Placements are voluntary and can be terminated by the parent, legal guardian, or agency.

Application Process
Step 1: Call 800-277-4352 or contact the program location closest to you to find out more about our services.

Step 2: If the initial assessment reveals your child is a good fit for one of our programs, download an application form or ask that one be mailed or faxed to you. Once completed, return the application by mail, fax or in person. Please do not e-mail applications as we cannot ensure confidentiality online.

Step 3: You and the intake worker will set a date and time for the intake assessment interview with you and the child at the group home or foster care offices. During the assessment, there will be an in-depth interview and facility tour.

Step 4: After the intake assessment interview, agency staff will determine whether or not our program is able to meet your child’s needs. If the decision is to pursue placement, a date and time for admission will be scheduled. Our sliding-scale fee schedule will be discussed and a fee for services determined.

Step 5: Based on your child’s needs, a pre-placement visit may be scheduled prior to admission to help your youth feel more comfortable about placement. You will be given a list of all documents required for placement, a clothing list and more specific information about the program. At the time of “sign-in,” you and your youth will complete a placement agreement and other documents. “Sign-in” takes approximately two hours.

Little girl standing by a pool.

Things to Know

  • All youth placed in PCHAS group homes are required to attend a Presbyterian church for Christian education and worship services on a weekly basis.
  • PCHAS operates on a sliding fee scale, meaning that fees are based on the parent’s or legal guardian’s ability to pay. No child is denied services solely for financial reasons. All parents or legal guardians are expected to pay some fee on a monthly basis.
  • Parents and legal guardians are expected to maintain regular contact with their youth in care by telephone, letters, and personal visits as determined in the individual treatment plan. Additionally, parents and legal guardians are considered part of the child’s treatment team and are expected to attend treatment planning meetings and reviews.
  • No form of physical punishment is permitted.

PCHAS is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The Waxahachie Group Home Program is a Certified Teaching-Family Site and member of the Teaching-Family Association. PCHAS does not take legal custody of any children in care; placements are voluntary and can be terminated by the parent, legal guardian or agency.