Choosing The William George Agency
The William George Agency is a safe, therapeutic living-learning environment for adolescent boys and girls aged 12 – 21, whose needs cannot be sufficiently met with family members or through placement in a foster family home. We understand that it’s a tough decision to entrust the care of your child to another to receive the help they need to become their best self.
After being accepted into a WGA program, each youth residing on campus works directly with their own interdisciplinary treatment team to develop and support their personal wellness goals. Goals are adopted after a comprehensive health analysis, which includes assessment of trauma, PTSD and/or related symptoms, depression and/or anxiety, risky behaviors, suicidal ideation, substance use issues, commercial sexual exploitation, and other areas of concern.
Please note: WGA is currently accepting males between the ages of 12 and 17 at the time of admission who are in 7th through 12th grades and females between the ages of 12 and 17 at the time of admission who are in 9th through 12th grades.
To participate in a WGA residential program, youth must be referred by a worker from a sponsoring agency: County DSS (Department of Social Services), OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services), or school CSE (Committee on Special Education). WGA requests specific information in this important step of the process to assist in determining program eligibility. Please download the required referral documentation check list and referral form below.
Before making a referral, sponsoring agencies are encouraged to contact Admissions staff.
Completed referral documentation can be sent via our confidential fax line at 607.844.3764 or emailed to our Admissions Department.
Upon receiving the necessary documentation, Admissions staff will review and reach out to the referring agency to schedule an interview with the child and their family, as appropriate. A member of the Admissions team will communicate the decision regarding admission following the interview. Successful prospective candidates will move to the next step of the Admissions process: Acceptance.
After a child has been formally accepted for admission to a WGA program, consent forms need to be completed and returned to the Admissions Department at or before the scheduled admission date. The Admissions Consent Packet [PDF, 3MB] is available for downloading below. In addition to the forms and consents included in the packet, copies of the following documents are required:
- Child’s official immunization record; this can be from the school or physician
- A physical exam and a TB tine test will be administered upon admission. If either of these have been performed in the last few months, an official copy of the record may be attached.
- Child’s primary insurance coverage and/or Medicaid card (front and back)
- Birth certificate
- Social security card
- Court order
- Child’s current medication order
- Proof of child’s COVID-19 vaccine (if applicable)