Discovery House is located south of the county courthouse in Anaconda, Montana. Before it began to operate as a short-term shelter care facility for youth in need of care and supervision, the house served many purposes including a "pest home" (where the county placed individuals with at-the-time untreatable diseases such as tuberculosis), a welfare office, and a rest home.

In July 1974, Discovery House began its operation under the direction of Sister Gilmary Vaughan, a Sinsinawa Dominican nun. It was developed as a result of the state deinstitutionalization program and the need for a facility in Southwestern Montana where at-risk-youth in crisis could be placed, other than in county jails.

Discovery House serves youth from Deer Lodge, Granite, Powell, Silver Bow, Beaverhead and Madison counties on a regular basis, and, when space allows, from other areas of the state. Since its inception, it has served over 6,000 youth. Most of the youth are referred by probation or welfare agencies. Runaway youth receive services at the house on an emergency basis.

Discovery House is a member of the national network for Runaway and Homeless Youth and is licensed by the State of Montana department of Public Health and Human Services. It is licensed to accommodate up to nine youth, between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. Most youth are emotionally disturbed and suffer from drug and/or alcohol abuse or from neglect. Some have been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused, and come with loss and abandonment issues.

In early 2007, the future of Discovery House was in jeopardy because of continued financial difficulties. Through a collaborative effort to save it from extinction, CCCS intervened. In February 2007, the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution allowing CCCS to lease the facility for 3 years. CCCS began operating Discovery House on April 1, 2007 and, on April 1, 2011, celebrated its continued operation for five years.

CCCS requested the state to reclassify Discovery House from a Shelter Care facility to a dually licensed youth Group Home/Shelter Care, Supervision Level IV with Supportive Services Level 1. This request was granted on August 26, 2008.

With the Group Home, Discovery house is able to provide long term services. Shelter Care is for a short term placement, thirty to forty-five days. Discovery house is contracted with the State of Montana to provide both services. By offering Supportive Services, staff provides one group session per week for youth and two individual sessions to discuss any problems the youth may be experiencing at home.

The mission of Discovery House is to provide a safe, comfortable and homelike atmosphere that allows the youth the opportunity to deal with problems that he or she must confront.

The goal of Discovery House is to provide basic support and other needed services including educational, medical, psychological and counseling services to at-risk-youth from Southwestern Montana.

CCCS Staff have established the following objectives to enable Discovery House to best achieve program goals:

• Provide a safe and secure environment for staff and troubled youth.
• Provide interventions and services intended to reduce the likelihood of future criminal behaviors, thereby enhancing public safety.
• Work in close cooperation with the referring and placement county agencies.

Emphasis is on evaluation assessment, diagnosis, and crises handling of behavioral/mental problems. While the facility does not engage in treatment, it offers a variety of programs and activities.

A dedicated team of staff distinguished by both education and experience provide services at Discovery House. CCCS has carefully selected a diverse, professional staff to ensure clients receive the most effective environment for correctional programming and community transitional services.

Name:	Tina Masters
Title:	Program Director
Address:	65 Sheep Gulch Road
	Anaconda, MT 59711
Phone:	406-563-3842
E-mail:	tmasters@cccscorp.com

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None at this time.