Residential Treatment

Our residential treatment facility (RTF) serves children and adolescents diagnosed with a mental health condition. This level of treatment typically becomes necessary when the child can no longer function safely in the family or community setting. More often than not, placement outside the home becomes necessary when all other treatment options have been exhausted and the child’s symptoms persist.

Children competing in our annual summer olympics

Cottage teams provide a structured therapeutic environment with interventions specifically tailored to meet the individual needs of each young person as identified by the child and parents. In addition to the child and parents, the team consists of a case manager, primary therapist, psychiatrist, therapeutic recreation assistant, nurse and direct care staff.

Each child or adolescent in residential treatment is typically involved in two to four hours of intervention therapy a day outside of school. Therapy is based on the needs identified by the child and the family. Types of therapy may include individual, family, group and therapeutic recreation, as well as optional pastoral care. The treating psychiatrist is actively involved in the child’s treatment. Each child and their parents have scheduled time with their treating psychiatrist monthly and more often as needed or requested.

We believe that highly individual treatment goals can be attained through building strong family partnerships. The words of one parent with a child in this program:


“I wanted my faith recognized and honored in dealing with [my son]. I wanted to come and see him whenever I could manage (about 5 times a week). I wanted to speak with him whenever I chose…I wanted to be consulted on everything – in other words – just because I couldn’t make life better for him, I am his mom and nobody better forget that…I was always treated as if nothing I was asking for was outrageous and they were thrilled to have me on the team.”


The green house at Glade Run Adventures

(See the rest of this mother's letter.)

Our larger program goals are to successfully divert residents from acute psychiatric units and to provide crisis stabilization. Our outcomes speak to our success. Over 90% of children who come to the RTF are discharged successfully to a less restrictive environment.

Our residential treatment program is offered on a campus setting in Zelienople, just north of Pittsburgh and centrally located between Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. This location is easily accessible from Interstate 79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

This beautiful rural environment provides a quiet and peaceful place with exposure to Glade Run Adventures, our therapeutic animal and horticultural program. For many residents, this is their first exposure to horses, goats, chickens and gardening.

If you are interested in learning more about residential treatment at Glade Run, contact Danielle Lilly, residential admissions coordinator at (724) 452.4453 ext. 1621.