Alice C. Tyler Village of Childhelp

23164 Dragoon Road
Lignum, Virginia 22726
540.399.1926

The Alice C. Tyler Village of Childhelp is a safe and secure residential treatment facility providing a continuum of healing services for severely abused children. Children receive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual rehabilitation that overcomes the ravages of their trauma. Admission ages range from 5 - 12 for both genders. The average length of stay is 14 months.

Childhelp is located on 270 beautiful acres in Culpeper County, Virginia. The Village admitted its first child in 1993. The property features forests and fields, fishing ponds and streams, a swimming pool, gym, an outdoor and indoor equestrian center with approximately 13 horses, a petting zoo, and a Ropes Course. Children live in cozy, family-style cottages. All cottages are decorated and furnished to resemble as closely as possible a normal home environment.

Clinical Services

A multidisciplinary team under the direction of a full time psychiatrist provides treatment services. Our therapists provide therapeutic services including individual, group, and family therapies that use behavioral, inter-personal and cognitive methodologies. The Multidisciplinary Treatment Team reviews treatment plans for children monthly.

Additional treatment modalities include, but are not limited to, psychiatric evaluations and assessments, medication intervention and stabilization, expressive therapies in art and recreation, and activities in daily living skills, e. g., anger management, conflict resolution and nutrition. Residents also participate in swimming, fitness programs, and canoe trips. All children receive a bicycle upon arrival, which they can take with them when they leave. The Village makes extensive use of animal assisted therapies.

Education

The Village Elementary School operates a licensed special education school that emphasizes individual attention to students in a behavioral oriented program. A large majority of the residents demonstrate severe academic under-performance. The Village offers specialized instruction for dual diagnosed students.

Children are educated in small classroom settings and work with each student's county to ensure that Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are current. In addition to a standard academic curriculum tailored to the needs of each child, the VES also delivers art and music instruction. The school is divided into two buildings: Batavia (yellow schoolhouse) and Schar (red schoolhouse). In addition to Batavia and Schar, VES has a well equipped library for the children.

Continuation of Care

Childhelp Virginia also offers Group Home services in the community. This program ensures a step-down to a family style level of care for those youth not currently ready for foster care. Childhelp also works with foster care agencies to help our residential and group home children to transition to the most appropriate residence in the continuum.