Criteria for Membership in the Coalition of Residential Excellence

Membership in the Coalition of Residential Excellence is one way agencies participate in forging a united voice on matters shaping the future of residential childcare. One of the criteria for memberships is a check-and-balance system of regulatory oversight. As a professional membership organization, CORE is not equipped to ensure that children in placement are cared for in a safe and professional manner without the support of either licensure by a state regulatory authority or accreditation by an external accrediting body promoting best standards.

Consequently, in an effort to ensure credibility and promote best practice, membership in CORE is contingent on either licensure by a state regulatory authority or accreditation by an external accrediting body promoting best standards.

It adds credibility to a professional organization when member agencies strive to promote excellence within the realm of services to children and families from hard places.

The following strengths are characteristic of member agencies of the Coalition of Residential Excellence.

Education Focused

A quality education coupled with relationships with caring adults who nurture the children and youth physically, academically, emotionally, and spiritually is one of the cornerstones of CORE agencies.

Empowering

Residents are provided many opportunities to identify and strengthen their skills, abilities and interests through participation in the arts, music, sports, recreational activities and programs to promote character and social skills development.

Family Friendly

Family members are encouraged to be active participants in the care of their child and to maintain regular contact with their child through weekend and summer visits, and attendance at school and extracurricular events. Keeping siblings together and maintaining family connections that are safe and appropriate is a priority.

Family–Like Setting

Most children reside in single-family homes with two home parents in a residential community designed specifically for children.

Preventative

CORE agencies invest in the futures of children who would otherwise be homeless, out of school, living in dangerous neighborhoods or subjected to multiple failed placements with relatives or other substitute care providers.

Lifetime Connections

Children from CORE agencies maintain strong and lasting connections to home parents, teachers, administrators and other youth, and they have a place to come home to for the rest of their lives.

Trauma-Informed

Residents are cared for by skilled professional parents and staff trained in working with children and youth impacted by traumatic life circumstances.

Peter Gurt

This year MHS will celebrate 109 years as a Home and School focused on bringing opportunity to thousands of boys and girls from across the country who are affected by poverty.

MHS is a founding member of CORE and is dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by offering students educational programs unavailable in their home communities, such as small class sizes; access to the latest technology; and focus on an individual student’s needs, interests and abilities. The school also provides wrap-around programs at no charge to enhance student learning and progress. Nearly 90 percent of MHS graduates pursue postsecondary education.

Our Founders were not insular as they worked to establish our Home and School. MHS appreciates and values the good relations and networking CORE provides in the best interest of our staff, students, and families. Together we benefit from smaller and larger organizations, from new and older organizations, the many opportunities CORE brings.

We are proud to be a member of CORE as we work together, and are committed to best practice in the best interest of our students and mission.

Peter G. Gurt, President, Milton Hershey School

Photo courtesy Kurn Hattin Homes for Children

CORE-Coalition of Residential Excellence

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