Lee Home
Youth Placement Services and Group Home Care, Lee Home in Swanton, OH
When a young person needs placement, the goal should never be just finding somewhere for them to stay. They need stability, support, structure, and caring adults who can help them build the skills they need to move forward. At the Lee Home in Swanton, we provide youth placement services in Ohio through a therapeutic, family-style setting that is designed to help youth grow in a safe and consistent environment. As part of The Ohio Teaching-Family Association, we work closely with county and state agencies to provide evidence-based care, daily skill building, and a home-like atmosphere that supports healing, accountability, and long-term progress.
The Foundation of a Legacy
The story of the Ohio Teaching-Family Association (OTFA) began in 1968, when Doug and Sylvia Lee dedicated their lives to children. Their journey started at the Jones Home for Children in Cleveland, following pivotal work at Sagamore Hills Children’s Psychiatric Hospital, the Educational Development Center, and the Upward Bound program in Little Rock, Arkansas.
While working at the Berea Children’s Home, Doug earned his Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) from Case Western Reserve University. Later, while pursuing doctoral degrees at the University of Kansas, Doug and Sylvia served as co-directors of Achievement Place for Girls, a site for groundbreaking Teaching-Family research.
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During this time, they shared the Teaching-Family Model globally through NIMH-funded dissemination programs. Doug also served as a charter Teaching-Parent representative during the formation of the National Teaching-Family Association (NaT-FA).
Building OTFA
After developing a four-home project in Toledo for the Cummings-Zucker Center, Doug and Sylvia followed their vision to create an independent program. In partnership with dedicated colleagues, they became the original incorporators of the Ohio Teaching-Family Association.
Continuing the Mission: Sylvia, Ian, and Kristen Lee
Today, the legacy Doug established continues through the dedicated leadership of Sylvia, Ian, and Kristen Lee. They remain committed to the Teaching-Family Model, providing a stable, nurturing environment for older adolescent boys as they prepare for adulthood.
The Lee family operates from their ten-acre farm just outside the Village of Swanton. The home remains a place of growth, education, and community:
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Life on the Farm: Sylvia continues to bring beauty and harmony to the home through her passions for cooking, decorating, and gardening. She remains active in her English garden, teaching foster sons about horticulture and sharing the gift of music through the piano.
The Workshop Legacy: The traditions Doug started in the garage live on. The property features a fully equipped welding shop, woodworking shop, and professional automotive lift. Under the family’s guidance, foster sons continue to learn essential trades—including carpentry, plumbing, and mechanics—through home projects, neighborly assistance, and Habitat for Humanity builds.
Career & Character: The “guys” are encouraged to develop a strong work ethic, earning money through projects on the property or local employment in the Swanton area.
Community & Leadership
The Lee family remains deeply rooted in the Swanton community. Sylvia continues her long-standing involvement in school-related organizations, and the family honors Doug’s extensive service history—including his time as President of the Swanton Rotary Club, member of the Swanton Board of Education, and his foundational role as Executive Director of OTFA.
Through Sylvia, Ian, and Kristen, the mission remains clear: providing a family-based environment where young men can learn the skills necessary to lead successful, independent lives.
A Family-Style Setting
With Real Therapeutic Purpose
What makes the Lee Home different is that we are not built around an institutional model. We are grounded in the Teaching-Family Model, which creates a structured, supportive home where treatment happens through everyday life. Meals, routines, chores, conversations, and problem-solving all become part of the learning process.
That matters because youth often respond better in an environment that feels normal, steady, and respectful. Our mission has long been to provide the least restrictive, most home-like therapeutic environment for high-risk children. At the Lee Home, that means creating a space where youth can feel safer, build trust with consistent adults, and learn the social and emotional skills they need for the future.
Why Referral Partners Choose the Lee Home
Youth referred for residential placement are often dealing with behavioral, emotional, or transitional challenges that require more than supervision. They need a setting where treatment is active, progress is intentional, and daily life becomes part of the intervention. That is why county and state agency referrals in Ohio turn to programs like ours.
We are proud to be:
- DCY licensed
- Evidence-Based Teaching-Family Model certified
- A trusted partner for county and state agencies
Our licensed professionals and trained care providers understand how to support youth with consistency, structure, and trauma-informed care in a setting that feels more like a home and less like a facility.
Trauma-Informed Youth Care That Teaches Everyday Skills
At the Lee Home, trauma-informed youth care is a central part of how we work. Many young people entering placement have lived through instability, conflict, loss, or disruption that affects how they respond to stress, relationships, and expectations. We do not ignore those realities. We build our care around them.
Using the Teaching-Family Model, we help youth strengthen:
- emotional regulation
- communication skills
- problem-solving abilities
- social interactions
- accountability and responsibility
- independent living habits
These lessons happen through daily, positive interactions with trained staff who are focused on teaching, not just reacting. That is a big part of what makes therapeutic family-style care in Swanton, OH, so effective. Youth are not just told what to do. They are shown how to do it successfully in real situations.
A Safer, More Reassuring Alternative
to Institutional Care
Traditional group settings can feel overly clinical or institutional, which often adds stress and distance for youth who already feel uncertain. The Lee Home is different by design. It looks, feels, and functions like a family home, which helps reduce stigma and create a more reassuring daily environment.
That family-style structure is paired with professional treatment support, evidence-based behavioral intervention, and dedicated staff who work closely with the youth every day. The result is a setting that promotes both emotional safety and real growth.
Our Youth Placement Services at the Lee Home
We provide specialized residential care for youth referred through Ohio county and state systems. Our services include:
- 24/7 therapeutic residential group home care
- Teaching-Family Model behavioral intervention
- individualized care and treatment planning
- life skills development and academic support
- trauma-informed emotional regulation training
- comprehensive discharge and transition planning
Each placement is developed with the youth’s needs and the referring agency’s goals in mind. We know that no two cases are exactly the same, and our service model reflects that.
How We Handle the Placement Process
We work closely with agency partners to make the placement process as smooth and organized as possible.
Referral and Intake
We coordinate with county and state agencies to review referrals, discuss the youth’s needs, and determine whether the Lee Home is the right fit.
Welcoming and Assessment
After admission, the youth is welcomed into the home and provided with a comprehensive behavioral and emotional assessment to guide the care plan.
Individualized Skill Building
Using the Teaching-Family Model, our staff teaches practical social, emotional, and independent living skills through daily routines, coaching, and positive reinforcement.
Progress Monitoring
We provide regular documentation, updates, and data-informed feedback to the referring agency so case managers have clear insight into progress.
Reintegration and Transition
Our program includes planning for a successful transition, whether that means reunification, movement to another family setting, or preparation for more independent living.
Why Agencies Choose Our Teaching-Family Model
The Teaching-Family Model is one of the strongest reasons referral partners trust our program. It is peer-reviewed, evidence-based, and designed to create long-term positive behavioral change through consistent daily teaching and relationship-based care.
Agency partners value the Lee Home because we offer:
- a certified Teaching-Family approach
- a safe, home-like setting
- dedicated, highly trained staff
- strong communication with referring agencies
- individualized treatment planning
- structured support focused on successful transition outcomes
We understand how important it is for agencies to have a placement partner that is responsive, organized, and aligned with the long-term needs of the youth being served.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lee Home provides therapeutic residential care for youth referred through Ohio county and state child welfare, juvenile justice, or developmental disabilities agencies.
Length of stay varies depending on the individualized treatment plan and the goals established with the referring agency.
Placements are funded through contracts with referring county children’s services boards, court systems, or state agencies. Please contact our intake coordinator for current per diem rates and contract information.
The Lee Home uses the Teaching-Family Model, where trained professionals teach social, emotional, and independent living skills through natural daily interactions, routines, meals, chores, and family-style meetings.
Partner With Us for Youth Placement at the Lee Home
When a youth needs placement, the environment matters. It should be safe, therapeutic, structured, and built around real growth. At the Lee Home in Swanton, we provide youth placement services in Ohio that combine the Teaching-Family Model, trauma-informed support, and a home-like setting that helps youth build skills and prepare for a more stable future. We’re proud to work alongside county and state agency partners to provide meaningful care that goes beyond supervision alone. So we hoppe you partner with us for youth placement and contact our intake team today.
