Let me begin by thanking Jody Levison-Johnson, Director of Louisiana’s new Coordinated System of Care (CSOC). She introduced me to the Association of Children’s Residential Centers (ACRC).

The Association of Children’s Residential Centers brings professionals together to advance the frontiers of knowledge pertaining to the spectrum of therapeutic living environments for children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders.

I have visited by phone and email with Kari Sisson, the National Director of ACRC, and have explored the excellent resources which are available to members. I visited, too, with the leadership of several other United Methodist children’s homes which are ACRC members. ACRC is an impressive organization whose member agencies are providing cutting-edge residential care to children and families across the United States.

Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services is the first Louisiana member of the ACRC and our timing is great. The next ACRC Annual Conference will be held in New Orleans in April of 2012.

The Association of Children’s Residential Centers believes that children and adolescents, and their families, are entitled to treatment which offers the maximum opportunity for growth and change. Children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders present unique treatment challenges. The complexity of their clinical conditions and their developmental needs demand that many children and adolescents be served in settings that are constructed to ensure experiential learning of healthy and productive life skills. ACRC believes that clinically crafted residential treatment options, ranging from community based homes through institutional environments, are essential components in a comprehensive system of behavioral health care.

Learn more about the Association of Children’s Residential Centers by exploring the web site at https://togetherthevoice.org/

Rick Wheat
President and Chief Executive Officer
Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services