Treatment Levels

A standardized needs assessment scale, the "Child Severity of Psychiatric Illness" (CSPI) is used by the State of Missouri, Division of Family Services, to determine that classification of "need level". The most severe need classification is "Intensive Need", or "Level IV". Level III classifies a "Severe Need", and Level II a "Moderate Need". BYS serves children at Levels III and IV in specialized Residential Treatment Homes, and serves children at Level II in Therapeutic Foster Homes and in Transported Day Treatment programs.

Residential Care

Level IV Residential Care Facilities (Intensive Need Level)

BYS offers four Level IV residential care facilities. Two Intensive Care Residences were opened in 1994 and 1998, respectively. Located in the BYS Child and Family Therapy Center, the two ICR facilities serve ten boys and ten girls as physically secure facilities for the severely acting-out child who presents a serious safety risk to self or others. (It is the objective of Butterfield child care professionals to use this facility as a diagnostic, treatment, and transition component with an average stay of less than six months. Once presenting behaviors are at a manageable level, the youth may be eased into a less restrictive level of treatment.)

The South Ranch (established in 1987), offers Level IV services to girls in a staff-secure setting. The New Homestead Ranch (established in 1987), offers these same staff-secure services to boys. These programs are intensively staffed, similarly to the Intensive Care Residence, but are oriented to community involvement and youth are encouraged to actively learn increasing responsibility within the community.

Level III Residential Care Facilities (Severe Need Level)

Level III facilities include the North Ranch, established in 1976, the West Ranch, established in 1971 and Butterfield's original residential care facility, the East Ranch, established in 1963.