At KVC Kansas, we know that we all need connection – it’s the heart of everything we do. Combining residential treatment with the power of community, KVC Kansas’ qualified residential treatment program (QRTP), or “the Q” as we like to call it, supports adolescent girls in a variety of ways on their journey to healing. Discover what a QRTP is, what makes KVC’s approach so unique and the impact this program has on young people’s lives.

Frequently Asked Questions About KVC Kansas’ Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)

What is a qualified residential treatment program (QRTP)? 

KVC Kansas’ QRTP serves girls ages 12-18 with behavioral health treatment services to meet their needs. Most girls who receive treatment are not only within the foster care system but have been through traumatic or difficult experiences. We also serve children not involved with the child welfare system if they have a demonstrated mental health need.

Regena Pearl, Director of the Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)

“The girls we serve are typically kids in foster care who have had traumatic experiences in their life,” explains Regena Pearl, Director of the Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP). “Many of them have had acute hospitalizations, several different foster homes or adoption.” KVC’s QRTP provides girls with the setting and support they need to improve coping, decision-making and social-emotional skills — all with the goal of the best possible outcomes to reunify with family.

What kind of treatment or support do youth receive at the QRTP?

Every child we serve must meet certain requirements to be admitted into the QRTP, Pearl explains. While their lives are in the midst of uncertainty and all kinds of unknowns, the QRTP provides girls with a therapeutic, positive and supportive atmosphere to empower growth. Along with opportunities for onsite individual, group and family therapies, the campus also features two acres of outdoor space for activities like volleyball, basketball, walking, gardening and visiting with friends and family.

These girls want to be successful, and they will put in the work to meet the goals of the program and the goals they set themselves.

What makes KVC’s approach to qualified residential treatment unique?

Although there are other QRTP facilities across the country, KVC’s QRTP works on a stand-alone basis and sets itself apart from the others with its family-like atmosphere. As Pearl describes it, the program is one of a kind because of its emphasis on community. “We are very unique. The whole team is great, we step in to support one another wherever needed.”

Who serves the girls participating in the qualified residential treatment program?

The QRTP team includes direct care workers, case managers, therapists, in-house nurse and the cleaning crew. “We all play a huge part in the experience and care that the girls receive while they’re here,” Pearl says. While each specialist brings something unique to the table, the girls benefit from the collaboration of the team. “We all do whatever we need to do to make it work!”

Like the staff and the program itself, the Q recognizes that each adolescent’s journey is unique, and because of that, the program is designed to address youth’s unique needs. To gain a more detailed understanding of our QRTP, take a look at this video.

What does a typical day look like for a QRTP participant?

For the girls living at the Q, no two days are the same! The girls participate in intensive therapy, including individual, group and family sessions, where they learn coping techniques, anger management and other crucial skills. However, the program’s therapeutic impact stretches far beyond the actual therapy sessions.

A therapy room at KVC Kansas’ qualified residential treatment program (QRTP).

As a community-based program, the girls attend public schools and participate in frequent offsite activities and volunteer opportunities. Weekend and after-school activities can range from visiting Worlds of Fun, volunteering at the local humane society, going to the movie theater, learning how to skate and more. We also partner with places of worship for additional support.

This program wraps around the girls we serve to provide social, emotional, behavioral and educational enrichment. These community-building opportunities also expand the girls’ support networks, help them find new hobbies or passions, and provide unique experiences they might not have had otherwise.

“For many of these girls, these are activities they may not have experienced before,” explains Kyla Douglas, Outpatient Therapist at KVC Kansas’ QRTP.

A typical “day in the life” may include:

• Hygiene routines and getting ready for the day
• Eating breakfast together
• Medications (if necessary)
• 

  With a library full of books, girls receiving treatment at KVC Kansas’ QRTP can build their reading skills while expanding their imaginations.

  Goals group – setting intentions for the day

• School (on school days) or planned outings
• After-school/extracurricular activities
• Exercise and other physical activities or games
• Individual, group and/or family therapy
• Eating dinner together
• Evening routines and getting ready for bed

“We like to keep their minds and bodies active,” Pearl explains. The activities lend the program structure and consistency, which many girls may never have experienced before. Many girls leave the program feeling more capable to handle life’s challenges and face any difficulties that arise. 

How KVC’s QRTP Helps Youth Succeed

The QRTP serves adolescent girls from across Kansas and empowers them with the skills and tools necessary to live healthy, successful lives. After discharge, girls receive aftercare support on a weekly basis for the first month, with weekly contacts for the following five months. Aftercare focuses on stability and continued community engagement.

Douglas shines a light on one reason why this program has become so successful. She says, “The kids get a chance to work with so many adult women from all different kinds of backgrounds, and they get support exploring who they are as a person,” she says. “These girls want to be successful, and they will put in the work to meet the goals of the program and the goals they set themselves.”

Success Story: Teen Girl Discovers Her Talent and Passion for Volleyball Through KVC’s QRTP

Pearl shares a story about a teen who truly flourished through her time in the qualified residential treatment program, even achieving her goal of playing high school volleyball.

One youth came to the QRTP after a longer stay in foster homes. “She had been in foster care for awhile, and so no one knew of her athleticism,” Pearl says. “But we noticed a few things that stood out about her. She was very athletic, very energetic. We asked her what kinds of things she’d like to get involved in after school.”

The teen shared that she had been an athlete when she was younger, and volleyball turned out to be a great fit. Pearl and a few other staff members personally stepped in to guide and coach her. When it was time for high school tryouts, and extra nerves and anxiety were surfacing from the teen, Pearl and another staff member accompanied the youth and offered sideline pep talks. A little while after tryouts, she found out she accomplished her goal – she made the varsity volleyball team! “It was such a milestone for her,” Pearl says.

Empowering Adolescent Girls Through KVC’s QRTP

There are many more success stories that demonstrate how KVC Kansas’ QRTP has helped adolescent girls achieve mental health wellness and empowered them to achieve their dreams. These stories serve as inspiration and hope for any child or teen who may need this kind of treatment and support. These stories also highlight the effectiveness of KVC’s treatment approach and show the dedication of our passionate team. If you’d like to further explore our qualified residential treatment program, as well as the wide variety of services KVC Kansas offers to young people in foster care, learn more here.