Who We Are
The William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA) is a youth and family-centered community of compassionate and trained adults. We will never stop believing in every child’s ability to reach their highest potential and achieve life-long happiness and success.
Established as the nation’s first Junior Republic created by William R. George in 1895, WGA today follows a clinical oversight and therapeutic model with a strong emphasis on education and trauma-informed care for youth aged 12 – 18+.
Uninterrupted behavioral health care and intervention therapies take place on a 650-acre campus in the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes section of New York State.
A structured living learning environment helps adolescent boys and girls safely address their emotional, behavioral, and/or addiction challenges.
We strive to instill attitudes, social skills, and self-direction essential for youth to reach their potential, engage constructively with the community and cope more effectively with life’s challenges.
Our holistic approach helps youth gain perspective and build healthier relationships with the ultimate goal of family preservation and reunification when in the child’s best interest.
Mission
We are committed to providing a safe and caring residential environment supported by proven, therapeutic, clinical and medical care for at-risk youth.
Vision
Recognized as among the best in offering innovative, highly regarded programs to serve high need, specialized populations who have historically been underserved.
Values
To care first about young people while helping them develop the attitudes, social skills, and self-direction enabling them to become contributing members of the community. To engage, respect, empower, and partner with families to support their efforts in successful reunification and family preservation.
Memberships
Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
Tompkins County Critical Team to end Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
Cortland Area Chamber of Commerce
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce
Tompkins County ReBusiness Partnership Program
Licenses & Accreditations
Licensed by the NYS Office of Children & Family Services
Licensed by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Accredited by the Council on Accreditation
A Premier Accredited Center of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International
New York State Education Department (GJR UFSD)
- youth-centered individual treatment plans
- weekly family visits, on-site or at home
- animal assisted activities
- individual, group and family counseling
- vocational and work-based learning opportunities
- community integration therapies
- full scale medical and nursing support, including access to psychiatric nurse practitioner and outpatient substance use treatment
- adventure based counseling
- high teacher to student ratio for greater individual attention
- family reunification when in child’s best interest
We as staff will provide a non-judgmental, nurturing, safe, and therapeutic environment for all of our clients at all times.
We as staff will make every effort to understand what the world is like for the clients we serve, understanding that we did not share their same life experiences.
We will bring to work a motivational and charismatic attitude, so that our clients may draw from our strength when needed.
We as staff understand that mistakes are experiences to learn from and not feelings to feel inadequate by. Staff will work to see that the residents have this same understanding.
We as staff will work to help clients identify their strengths and build upon those strengths.
We as staff will work to lessen our resident’s fears of failure as well as success, understanding that neither can be avoided.
We as staff will be HONEST and SINCERE in all of our dealings with clients.
We as staff admit that we are human beings and therefore will make mistakes. We will admit and learn from those mistakes to not repeat them.
We as staff will provide appropriate role modeling in all aspects of our program.
We as staff will try to teach our clients that they are in control of their life, that life is full of choices, and that they must live by the positive and negative consequences of their choices.
We as staff will treat our clients with the same respect and dignity that we desire in return.
We as staff assure our clients that the information that they share will not be divulged to other clients or individuals unless withholding this information places any individual in jeopardy or has caused undue harm to another.
We as staff will work tirelessly to understand the role of a William George Agency employee and to embrace the responsibility of such a position within the Agency.
We as staff members will take advantage of every opportunity to become more educated in the field of residential treatment and internalize evolving concepts and modalities in this field to provide the most effective treatment for our clients.
– Staff Code of Ethics
Employee of the Month
Employee of the Month December 2024
Congratulations Theresa Brown. Ms. Brown was nominated for her impressive work ethic and dedication to the Agency by several of her peers: Tina Bailey,
Employee of the Month November 2024
Congratulations Brock Stark Mr. Stark was nominated by Family Services Coordinator, Diana Webb, for his willingness to learn and eagerness to become a stand-out
Employee of the Month October 2024
Congratulations Bud Marshall Mr. Marshall was nominated by Automotive Mechanic Supervisor Jeremy Smith for being a positive role model and for his dedication to