General Info

Established in 1966, Crittenton provides residential treatment to children ( boys and girls ages 6-12 ) and adolescent girls ( ages 12-21 ) who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, who are pregnant or parenting, or who have entered the juvenile justice system as youth offenders. All clients in our care have been assessed as needing intensive therapy, socialization skills, independent living skills, and a lot of "tender loving care" in a structured setting. To further server these troubled children, we also operate a non-public school, a transitional living program and a foster care agency. We currently serve 148 children and adolescents in residential settings and more than 50 additional children in foster homes throughout Southern California.To best match the needs of children with the capabilities of agencies, the State of California uses a "level" system. The higher the level of care needed by a child, the greater the capabilities required of an agency for counseling, medical care, staff supervision, etc. Obviously, the higher the level of service, the greater the cost of providing that care. The highest level of care is a Level 14 - virtually a psychiatric hospitalization. Crittenton is a Level 12 program which requires a high level of staffing 24 hours a day / 7 days a week as well as comprehensive counseling, medical, and other services. To continue to qualify at such a high level, FCS must maintain high staffing levels, a high ration of degreed and/or experienced staff, and extensive staff training. Most counties are greatly in need of level 12 and level 14 beds - places that FCS that can successfully treat greatly troubled children.