Placement Information

Mountain States Children's Home is committed to helping children grow into healthy, thriving individuals within their families and communities. Before pursuing placement, please review the criteria below carefully. Each situation is evaluated individually, and meeting these criteria does not guarantee placement.

Who We Serve

Mountain States Children's Home works primarily with children between the ages of 12–17, with most of our general population falling between 14–15. We consider children who present with the following:

Diagnoses we regularly work with:

• ADD/ADHD
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Mild mood disorders
• Mild attachment issues
• Depression and/or anxiety

Other considerations:

• Minor delinquency history
• Academic or school-related challenges (note: we are currently able to serve students at the 6th grade level or above)
• Behavioral issues within the home, including disrespect, defiance, or violation of household rules and parental authority
• History of neglect, abuse, or trauma (the level and intensity of trauma history will be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis)

Important Placement Considerations

The following situations do not automatically disqualify a child from placement but present significant challenges that will be carefully weighed during the evaluation process:

• Age and length of care — MSCH is unable to provide services to a child beyond the age of 18 and is required to discharge upon that birthday. For this reason, a child's age at the time of inquiry is an important factor in the placement decision. As a general standard, MSCH will not move forward with placement unless we are able to provide a minimum of 12–18 months of care. Families and referring parties should take this into careful consideration before submitting an inquiry, particularly when a child is approaching their 17th birthday.
• Social immaturity and poor social awareness — Children who present with notably poor social skills, limited social awareness, or significant emotional and behavioral immaturity may not be an appropriate fit for MSCH. Our program requires a foundational level of maturity in order for a child to successfully navigate the Behavior Management Program, the academic school setting, and therapeutic intervention. Children who lack this readiness may struggle to benefit from — or function within — the structure our program demands.
• Out-of-state placements involving 12-year-olds — Children who are 12 years of age and seeking placement from out of state present a unique set of logistical, regulatory, and clinical obstacles that may prevent placement from moving forward. This is particularly true for children who also demonstrate low maturity levels, as the combined challenges of age, distance, and developmental readiness can make a successful placement difficult to facilitate. These cases will be evaluated with extra care, and families should be aware that placement may not be possible.

Who We Are Not Able to Serve

The following situations are outside the scope of our programs. Children who fall into these categories will not be considered for placement. If your child falls into any of the categories listed below, please do not submit a Placement Inquiry, as these children cannot be considered for our programs regardless of other circumstances.

• Violent criminal charges — including but not limited to assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, murder, manslaughter, or vehicular assault/homicide
• Sexual offenses — children with an open or confirmed DSS/judicial investigation for sexual perpetration who have not completed Sex Offender Specific Treatment
• Fire-setting/arson — multiple charges or incidents involving fire-starting within the past three years without documented treatment
• Active gang involvement — children with current legal documentation of gang membership, particularly those in leadership roles who are not seeking to change their behavior
• Active suicidal or homicidal ideation — children who have expressed suicidal intent within the past 24–72 hours, or who have a specific homicidal plan or intent
• Untreated infectious or contagious disease
• Runaway or homeless youth — without documented parental or guardian consent for placement
• Substance addiction — active drug or alcohol dependency
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Low IQ or developmental disabilities
• Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Complex multi-diagnosis cases requiring multiple medications to maintain stability (these children typically require a more intensive clinical environment than we are able to provide)

Required Documentation

In order for a child to be considered a candidate for placement, all of the following records must be submitted prior to or alongside the application:

School Records:

• Academic transcripts and records
• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
• 504 Plans
• Behavior reports and disciplinary records

Psychological & Clinical Records:

• Psychological evaluations and testing results
• Psychological reports and clinical summaries
• Records, reports, and summaries from any previous placements
• Records, reports, and summaries from any previous hospitalizations

Incomplete documentation will delay the review process. No placement decision will be made without a full review of a child's complete educational, psychological, and clinical history.

The Intake Process

Placement at MSCH follows a structured, multi-step process to ensure each child is appropriately matched to our level of care. The steps are as follows:

1. Review This Intake Criteria in Full Carefully read all placement criteria above to determine whether MSCH may be an appropriate fit before submitting an inquiry.
2. Submit the Placement Inquiry Form Complete and submit the Placement Inquiry Form below. All required school records, IEPs, 504 Plans, behavior reports, psychological evaluations, and clinical records must be included at this stage.
3. Director Review The Director of Professional Services will review the submitted inquiry form. Based on this initial review, additional questions or supplemental information may be requested to ensure an accurate and thorough evaluation.
4. Formal Child Application If the information provided indicates that the child falls within MSCH's scope of care, a formal Child Application will be issued. This application gathers the comprehensive information needed to move forward in the process.
5. Interview with the Therapeutic Team Upon review of the completed Child Application, a formal interview with the MSCH therapeutic team will be offered. This step allows the team to engage directly with the family and gather any remaining information needed to assess fit and readiness for placement.
6. Placement Decision Following the interview and a thorough review of all submitted information, a placement decision will be made. If MSCH is determined to be an appropriate fit, a formal placement offer will be extended.

Please note: Out-of-state placements may require additional processing time.