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I love watching clients achieve their goals and learn new skills.
Wanda, Direct Care Professional at Nexus-Woodbourne
Our Approach to Treatment

Nexus residential programs are designed to keep your family engaged throughout the treatment process—and to ensure you’re wrapped with all the support you need during this difficult time. While we’re helping your child build skills and stability in their lives, we’ll also help the rest of your family deal with the impact of trauma and mental health issues.

Learn more about Nexus Residential Treatment.

Our Treatment Center
A beautiful facility on a historic estate.

Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing is located on a historic site in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, that has been helping kids in need for over 200 years, originally as an orphanage in the early 1800s.

Our Wellness Policy

Nexus-Woodbourne Nondiscrimination Statement

Programs for Males
(Ages 12-18)

Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Program

For kids who struggle with their emotions, behaviors, and/or mental health, we’re passionate about providing the support they need to heal, grow, and thrive—and we’re highly experienced at doing so.

What are emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues?

When a child’s behavior becomes unmanageable—even with high levels of adult intervention, and even when the child is provided love, structure, and protection—that child is most likely experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

We are experts in working with kids who have ongoing emotional and/or behavioral manifestations, like aggression, self-harm, social withdrawal, emotional outbursts, inappropriate social interactions, inability to self-regulate/self-soothe, and suicidal tendencies.

We treat a wide range of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, bipolar/manic disorder, PTSD, conduct/oppositional defiant disorder, attachment disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and more.

Based on each child’s individual and family needs, we use some or all of the following treatment approaches: • Psychological and Psychiatric Assessments

  • Clinical Evaluations
  • Therapy – Individual, Family, and Group
  • Counseling – Individual, Family, and Group
  • Psycho-Education – Individual, Family, and GroupPsychiatric Oversight (to include Medication Management)
  • Experiential Therapy – Sensory, Movement, Sand, Animal Interactions, and Play
  • Research-Based Techniques for Trauma Healing – EMDR (Eye Movement De- Sensitization Reprocessing) and/or TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused – Cognitive Based Therapy)
  • Daily Activity and Recreation
  • Vocational Skill Development
  • Education/School (at the appropriate grade and functional level)
  • Referrals – for Substance Abuse Treatment and/or Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies

Sexually Problematic Behaviors Program

We specialize in working with kids who demonstrate sexually problematic behaviors. Our treatment program is based on the most current research and national standards and our focus is on treating the whole child, not just a single issue. We’re committed to breaking the cycle of sexual harm so healing can begin.

What are sexually problematic behaviors?

Sexually problematic behaviors include harmful sexual acts against another person, sexual acts that show signs of becoming harmful, and other forms of acting out sexually.

Effective treatment for sexually problematic behaviors requires a safe, non-judgmental approach, based on empathy, genuineness, and warmth. Concern for those who have been harmed—and their need for respect, healing, empowerment, and ongoing safety—is both the driving force and guiding principle behind our successful treatment of youth with sexually problematic behaviors.

Our treatment has a three-pronged approach:

  1. Individualize for every child. Every kid we work with is unique. They each have different reasons for demonstrating sexually problematic behaviors, so they each have a different treatment plan that’s individually tailored to their needs and their family’s needs.

  2. Partner for success. We work together closely with the child’s family , treatment staff, and any others involved in monitoring the child’s success.

  3. Care for the whole person. In order to change harmfully sexual behaviors we address the needs and concerns of the whole child. Our holistic approach takes into account each child’s unique personality, temperament, culture, community, and environment. We address any related mental-health concerns, personal trauma, abuse by others (emotional, physical, or sexual), delays (intellectual, developmental, or educational), social-interaction problems, family stresses, relationship problems, medical concerns, substance-abuse behaviors, and other special needs.

Based on each child’s individual and family needs, we use some or all of the following treatment approaches:

  • Psychological and Psychiatric Assessments
  • Clinical Evaluations
  • Therapy – Individual, Family, and Group
  • Counseling – Individual, Family, and Group
  • Psycho-Education – Individual, Family, and Group
  • Psychiatric Oversight (to include Medication Management)
  • Experiential Therapy – Sensory, Movement, Sand, Animal Interactions, and Play
  • Research-Based Techniques for Trauma Healing – EMDR (Eye Movement De-Sensitization Reprocessing) and/or TF-CBT (Trauma Focused – Cognitive Based Therapy)
  • Daily Activity and Recreation
  • Vocational Skill Development
  • Education/School (at the appropriate grade and functional level)
  • Referrals – for Substance Abuse Treatment and/or Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies
Programs for Males and Females
(Ages 14-18)

Diagnostic Center

Our Nexus-Woodbourne Diagnostic Center serves male, female, transgender, and non-conforming youth who have been or are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. We’re committed to providing a safe environment—free from re-traumatizing stimuli—where youth can develop trusting relationships and build coping skills that will help them continue on their path toward wellness. Treatment and clinical services are provided by licensed, trauma-certified social workers and counselors, health services are provided by licensed health care staff, and educational services are provided on-site with a focus on life and vocational skills development.

School/Vocational Training
(Ages 12-21)

Woodbourne School

(Grades 6-12)

Our Woodbourne School provides therapeutic educational services to males residing at the Woodbourne Residential Treatment Center and to students from the community who need a more specialized and intensive school program in order to be successful.

The school offers a full schedule of classes and electives and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education  for full day and partial day special education, and regular education.

Woodbourne Triennial Assessment

Maryland School Wellness Scorecard

Wellness School Assessment Tool

Nexus-Woodbourne Meal Menu (4 Week Rotation)

Summer Food Program

Vocational Program

When youth are given the chance to learn and grow, they gain a greater sense of confidence in their ability to be successful and a stronger hope for the future. Our Nexus-Woodbourne Vocational Program equips students with real-world, tangible skills they can use in their future careers and continuing education. Our students learn automotive maintenance, carpentry, and basic technical and engineering skills. This program provides a high-quality educational experience in a setting that’s safe, supportive, and conducive to learning.

Treatment Foster Care
(Age 0 –Age 21)

At Nexus-Woodbourne, we provide children and youth (ages 0-21) that have a mental health diagnosis involving severe emotional and behavioral problems, safe, specially equipped foster homes that have the skills and resources to meet their complex needs.

Our Treatment Foster Care families are trained and certified in medication management, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care, and they’re focused on helping foster youth build healthy relationships and develop valuable life skills.

Kids in our Treatment Foster Care program are placed in foster homes that are specially equipped to handle their unique needs. We carefully match each child with a foster parent who can care for their unique needs. Our foster parents are committed to being change agents for kids and are certified for the Treatment Foster Care Program using the Child Welfare League of America-approved PRIDE curriculum. 

Nexus-Woodbourne case workers support families by providing treatment consultation and behavioral management support. Our treatment foster families collaborate closely with a case worker, the child’s custodian, and other service providers to ensure the best care for each individual child.

Together, we help set clear, realistic benchmarks and goals for each child and to help them achieve it. While in foster care, youth will attend a school appropriate to their needs, often The Nexus-Woodbourne School.

Email us for more information on Treatment Foster Care.

Our Board
  • Dr. Michelle K. Murray, Chairperson
  • Leslie Ashley, Board Member
  • Cale Christensen, Vice Chairperson
  • Cate Ilardo, Board Member
  • Scott McGuire, Board Member
  • Kevin Johnson, Board Member
  • Bobbi Kochevar, Board Member
  • Jennifer McIntosh, Secretary
  • Dr. Chevell Thomas, Board Member

Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing

1301 Woodbourne Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21239
410-433-1000
Fax: 410-435-2938
Human Resources: 410-433-1000, ext. 70100
Contact Us
Admissions Information
Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing
Nexus-Woodbourne Admissions
410-433-1000, ext. 70116
Completed referral forms can be faxed to 410-435-2938