DCF Licensed Residential Program Changes: Movement Towards Inclusivity
If you are reading this, you likely know someone with, or are someone with, lived experience in the foster care system. When young people cannot live with their families and no foster placement is available, the question becomes: where do they go?
In Vermont, Department for Children and Families (DCF) licensed residential programs are part of the solution for youth who might otherwise fall through the cracks. These programs provide safe housing, food, and therapeutic supports tailored to each young person’s needs.
Elevate Youth Services became licensed through DCF and began accepting residents in fall 2024. Prior to this transition, the program, known as Return House, operated under contract with the Department of Corrections for 18 years.
Since becoming a DCF licensed residential program, nearly every aspect of the program has changed aside from the physical space itself. The program now operates under a new set of licensing regulations that govern all residential treatment programs in Vermont. With new leadership, updated policies and procedures, and expanded staff training requirements, Elevate has intentionally built a model that exceeds minimum standards and centers the well-being of the young people who call this program home.
During a transition-to-18 team meeting, one resident shared:
“I love being here. It is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The staff at this program have helped me become a better member of the community and a better person. They also taught me how to understand boundaries.”
Elevate’s DCF Licensed Residential Program reflects the organization’s broader mission and commitment to youth-centered care. The program serves up to five young people at a time between the ages of 16 and 19 and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. The team includes a director, assistant director and case manager, house manager, thirteen youth engagement specialists, and a part-time mental health clinician.
The program supports residents in developing individualized plans for reentry into the community. Focus areas include independent living skills, employment readiness, educational exploration, healthy relationships, substance use and mental health support, housing stability, and building or maintaining connections with supportive people and community resources.
A core principle of the program is youth willingness to engage. Rather than relying on restriction or forced participation, the program prioritizes creating a safe, structured, and nurturing environment that encourages young people to take an active role in their own growth. Through a trauma-informed and strength-based approach, residents are offered guidance, accountability, and space for self-exploration.
A MILESTONE MOVEMENT FOR INCLUSION AND ACCESS
In July 2025, the program underwent its first license renewal and passed with flying colors. The renewed license is effective through June 30, 2027. During this process, Elevate Youth Services' Executive Director, the program director, and DCF collaborated on a significant and meaningful change by expanding the program’s eligible demographics.
The program is now licensed to accept youth of any gender, including non-binary and transgender youth.
Under its previous contract with the Department of Corrections, Return House operated as a male-only program. For program leadership, expanding eligibility was both necessary and long overdue.
“We made this change for a few reasons,” said Program Director Jessie Warren. “There are many youth in DCF custody who do not identify with a specific gender or with the sex they were assigned at birth. Residential placement can be especially challenging for non-binary and transgender youth. In co-ed programs with separate wings for boys and girls, young people are not always placed in spaces that align with their gender identity. The intentional language change in our license removes these barriers and reflects our commitment to operating a program that is inclusive, affirming, and safe for all youth.
“As a queer and trans adult, I cannot imagine how hard it would be to navigate adolescence, foster care involvement, and LGBTQ+ identity all at once. As service providers, the least we can do is treat all teens with dignity and respect and ensure they have a safe place to rest at the end of the day.”
This milestone reflects Elevate Youth Services’ ongoing commitment to ensuring every young person has access to safety, dignity, and belonging, no matter their identity.