Our Guiding Principles

Respectful, compassionate, and hopeful relationships are central to Waterford Country School’s values. We’re committed to developing a staff team whose skills and talents allow them to form caring relationships with the people we serve. We assist children and families, improving their well-being and driving positive change.

Based on six guiding principles, the CARE model is designed to profoundly
influence the way residential childcare professionals think about working
with children. CARE principles include being:

  • Developmentally Focused

  • Family Involved

  • Relationship Based

  • Competence Centered

  • Trauma Informed

  • Ecologically Oriented

Our Agency Model

For over 100 years, we’ve operated on behalf of children and families. Since 2009 we partnered with Cornell University and adopted their program model CARE (Creating Conditions for Change), our value system shifted and grounded itself into the change-inducing practice we stand by today. CARE is an evidence-based program model for improving services for children in and out-of-home care.

Our Mission

Waterford Country School is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to
enrich the lives of children and strengthen families through
specialized programs, resources, and community services.

Our Wellness Model & Treatment Strategies

Waterford Country School is committed to offering equitable access and service delivery to all participants of our programs, and will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a victim of domestic violence, disability (including, but not limited to intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, past or present history of physical disability, past or present history of a learning disability), or genetic information.