The Good Shepherd Center provides a continuum of services from residential treatment to discharge planning for adolescent girls and their families who are experiencing personal, family and societal conflicts. With over 140 years of experience, the Good Shepherd Center has served over 30,000 girls and their families in Maryland.

The Good Shepherd mission is "Love-In-Action" and rests on the belief that "One person is more precious than the world."

The Center is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations and licensed by the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Medicaid, Blue Cross, and other commercial insurance companies recognize our programs as a service provider.

Residential Treatment

Our Residential Treatment Center combines treatment, residential and educational services so that an adolescent girl has a highly structured, consistent learning and living environment which supports her therapeutic programs. The Center is licensed to serve up to 105 adolescent girls, ages 13 – 18. We are the largest licensed residential treatment center for adolescent girls in the State of Maryland.  Referrals come from the Department of Juvenile Services, the Department of Social Services, local Boards of Education, and the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene.

Our residents live in one of six residential units that can accommodate up to 14 girls each. Two of our residential units can accommodate up to 10 girls who need a secured residential setting. Our 24-hour staff works in three shifts.

The Good Shepherd treatment, residential and educational services are designed to cultivate a sense of achievement, to encourage self-determination, problem solving, decision-making, a sense of responsibility and service, the strengthening of interpersonal and family relationships, and to promote an understanding of moral and ethical values.

We serve children and families from all over the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Therapeutic Day School

Our Therapeutic Day School program allows an adolescent girl to receive the benefits of individualized educational plans, small classes, structured activities and therapeutic services. Girls who are in the 8th grade through the 12th grade and have been recommended by an academic review process for a Level V program are eligible for admission.

The Good Shepherd School is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as a secondary school serving grades 8 - 12.  The school also has approval to provide Intensity V and VI special education services, pre-GED and GED services.  All Good Shepherd faculty members are certified in a secondary level content area and most have dual certification in special education.

Philosophy

All of the Good Shepherd programs are built upon a philosophy that is focused on the uniqueness and value of the person. Our programs are concerned with human potential, its individuality and self-confidence in coping effectively with daily living. Good Shepherd’s professional, competent and caring staff provide an atmosphere of understanding acceptance and an invitation to growth. Each member of the staff attempts to open new vistas of hope for each girl and her family.

Good Shepherd Center operates within the framework and heritage of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The Sisters opened the first House of the Good Shepherd in Maryland in 1864. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd were founded by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier (1796-1868) who founded 110 houses in her lifetime to help girls and women in crisis. Today, there are over 6,000 Sisters of the Good Shepherd on six continents. There are a total of 450 centers around the world, including 35 cities in the United States and 72 countries throughout the world. For more information on the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, click here.

Residential Treatment Center:

The Director of Admissions is available to talk with families or agencies about potential applicants. The Center requires that referral information be sent to determine if the applicant meets criteria for admission.

In addition to appropriate referring information, a girl must be between 13-18 years, and must be able to be placed, at least provisionally, in the eighth grade. Services are not designed for the developmentally disabled. Family therapy is an essential component of the program. The Applicant and her family must agree to work together with Center staff. Good Shepherd Center admits girls of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin.

The final decision for admission is based upon the treatment needs for the applicant and the Center's ability to meet those needs.

Working with troubled youth is a challenging and very rewarding experience and our staff take their jobs very seriously. The girls are the first priority and the mission of the organization is felt keenly by the staff. It is what contributes to the atmosphere of caring and what makes working at Good Shepherd Center a reward in itself. We are a growing organization constantly seeking the most effective treatments and services and branching out to offer them as needed. We are team oriented in our approach to treatment and to performance improvement.

Providing 24-hour residential care that combines treatment, residential, and educational services to young people requires the talents of a wide variety of professionals. Following is a sample of job concentrations in our organization. (This is not an all-inclusive listing nor is it a listing of current open positions. For current openings, click here.) 

• Direct child care (residential leaders/counselors)  
• Social Workers/therapists  
• Teachers, instructional assistants  
• Custodial, housekeeping, and maintenance operations  
• Dietary Services (Cooks, servers, utility staff)  
• Medical Services (nurses, psychiatrists, etc.)  
• Information Technology Administration (accounting, clerical, medical records)  
• Activities (recreational counselors)  

Our employee benefit package includes medical insurance, dental, disability, and a 403(b) tax sheltered savings plan. Paid leave plans include six paid holidays and five personal leave days in addition to vacation. (We seek local applicants, as we do not offer relocation benefits for new hires.)

If you are interest in employment with our organization, we invite your application and inquiry by any of the convenient response methods shown below. Click here for a list of current job openings.

• E-mail a copy to us at "jobs@goodshepherdcenter.org"
• Mail or fax hard copy to:

Human Resources
Good Shepherd Center
4100 Maple Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21227-4099
Fax Number: 410-247-3242

Good Shepherd Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Good Shepherd’s residential treatment program publishes a periodic newsletter for parents of our students updating them on activities.  It is available for pickup in our lobby.  Check with your child's social worker or residential worker if you are not receiving a copy.

Good Shepherd Center
4100 Maple Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21227-4099
Tel:     (410) 247-2770
Fax:    (410) 247-3242