Waller Home
Welcome to Waller Home
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to learn more about Waller Home. We are proud to share our story, our philosophy, and our commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for the young men entrusted to our care.
Waller Home is currently operated by Heather Durkan (Waller) and Audrey Herroon. Together, they continue a legacy that began in 2013 when Rod and Sue Waller established the home with a vision of creating more than just a placement—they wanted to create a home where youth could experience stability, consistency, compassion, and opportunities to grow into successful young adults.
Our History
Rod and Sue Waller brought decades of experience to Waller Home before opening the program in Ohio. Their journey began in 1986 with Father Flanagan’s Boys Home, better known as Boys Town, where they served as Certified Family Teachers in a home caring for eight to ten adolescent males with significant behavioral and emotional needs.
After three years, they relocated to Tallahassee, Florida, where they were selected to open and operate a girls’ home utilizing the nationally recognized Teaching Family Model. Following their time in Florida, they returned to Omaha, Nebraska, where they continued working directly with youth and families through Boys Town, strengthening their knowledge and passion for helping young people overcome adversity through teaching, structure, encouragement, and positive relationships.
When the opportunity arose to expand these principles into Ohio, Rod and Sue opened Waller Home in 2013 as part of the Ohio Teaching Family Association. Their goal was simple but powerful: provide young men with a safe, caring family environment where they could heal, learn, and prepare for successful adulthood.
Continuing the Legacy
Heather Durkan (Waller), daughter of Rod and Sue, was raised within the Teaching Family Model. Growing up alongside the youth her parents cared for gave Heather a unique understanding of what it means to live in a therapeutic family environment. She witnessed firsthand the impact that patience, consistency, accountability, and unconditional positive regard can have on a young person’s life.
In 2013, Heather relocated from Omaha, Nebraska, to Ohio to help her parents establish and operate Waller Home. Since then, she has dedicated herself to developing programming that meets the evolving needs of youth while maintaining the core values upon which the home was founded. Following Sue’s retirement in 2018, Heather became a Teaching Parent and has continued leading the program with dedication, compassion, and a commitment to excellence.
Audrey Herroon joined Waller Home in 2014 and quickly became an invaluable member of the team. Throughout her years working with youth, Audrey has built strong therapeutic relationships founded on trust, respect, and consistency. She has demonstrated exceptional skill in helping youth develop healthier behaviors through coaching, teaching, and positive reinforcement.
In addition to her work at Waller Home, Audrey has served within the Wood County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program, advocating for the best interests of children involved in the child welfare system. Her experience in both residential care and child advocacy has strengthened her ability to understand the complex needs of youth who have experienced trauma.
After eleven years of dedicated service, Audrey became a Teaching Parent in 2025 following Rod’s retirement. Today, Heather and Audrey work together to continue the mission Rod and Sue began over a decade ago.
Why Referral Partners Choose the Waller Home
Youth referred for residential placement are often facing behavioral, emotional, or transitional challenges that require more than simple supervision. They need a setting where treatment is active, progress is measurable, and the adults around them know how to teach lasting skills. That is why county and state agency referrals in Ohio continue to rely on programs like ours.
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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 highly trained care providers understand how to create a balance of accountability, support, and day-to-day teaching that helps youth make real progress.
Our Philosophy of Care
At Waller Home, we believe that every youth has a unique story. Many of the young men who enter our home have experienced significant trauma, adversity, loss, instability, or disrupted relationships. We understand that challenging behaviors often reflect unmet needs, survival strategies, or past experiences rather than simply defiance or unwillingness to cooperate.
For this reason, our program is grounded in trauma-informed care.
Rather than asking, “What is wrong with this youth?”, we strive to ask, “What has this youth experienced, and how can we help?”
Trauma-informed care guides every aspect of our interactions. We recognize that healing occurs through safe relationships, predictable routines, emotional safety, and opportunities to build trust over time. Our goal is to create an environment where youth feel physically and emotionally safe enough to develop new skills, healthy relationships, and confidence in themselves.
We also recognize that no two youth have identical experiences. Every individual arrives with different strengths, challenges, goals, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and support systems. Because of this, we tailor our approach to meet the unique needs of each youth rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.
Individualized care may include:
- Building individualized behavior support strategies based on each youth’s strengths and needs.
- Teaching coping skills that match the youth’s emotional and developmental level.
- Adjusting communication styles to build trust and engagement.
- Supporting each youth in identifying personal goals and celebrating progress.
- Collaborating closely with therapists, caseworkers, families, schools, probation officers, and other members of the treatment team.
- Encouraging youth to actively participate in developing their own treatment goals and planning for their future.
We believe lasting change occurs when youth feel heard, respected, and empowered. By recognizing each young person’s individual experiences and abilities, we can provide support that promotes resilience, healing, and long-term success.
Our Youth Placement Services at the Waller Home
We provide specialized residential support 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 built around the youth’s specific needs and the goals established with the referring agency. We know that meaningful progress requires individualized care, not a generic plan.
A Reassuring Alternative to Institutional Care
Traditional residential placements can feel clinical, impersonal, and disconnected from everyday life. The Waller Home is intentionally different. It looks, feels, and operates like a family home, which helps reduce stress and stigma for the youth we serve.
That home-like atmosphere is paired with professional support, evidence-based intervention, and dedicated staff who work closely with youth to build trust and maintain consistency. This gives young people a more reassuring setting while still meeting the treatment and accountability expectations of county and state partners.
A Family Environment
While Waller Home is a therapeutic residential program, we strive to make it feel like a real family home.
Youth share meals together, celebrate birthdays and holidays, participate in recreational activities, and learn important life skills through everyday experiences. We believe many of life’s most valuable lessons occur during ordinary moments—cooking dinner together, completing chores, working through disagreements respectfully, or celebrating accomplishments as a family.
Our staff model healthy communication, emotional regulation, problem-solving, accountability, and respect. These daily interactions provide countless opportunities for youth to practice new skills in a supportive environment.
We maintain clear expectations and consistent routines because predictability helps youth develop a sense of safety and stability. At the same time, we recognize that flexibility and compassion are essential when responding to individual needs.
How We Handle the Placement Process
We work closely with referral sources to make the placement process organized, collaborative, and dependable.
Referral and Intake
We coordinate with county and state agencies to review the case, discuss fit, and determine whether the Waller Home is the right placement for the youth.
Welcoming and Assessment
Once admitted, the youth is welcomed into the home and provided with a comprehensive behavioral and emotional assessment to help guide treatment planning.
Individualized Skill Building
Through the Teaching-Family Model, our staff teaches social, emotional, and independent living skills during everyday routines, interactions, and structured support.
Progress Monitoring
We provide regular updates, documentation, and data-informed insight to the referring agency so case managers stay informed about progress and needs.
Reintegration and Transition
Our program includes planning for the next step, whether that means reunification, another family setting, or preparation for a more independent living arrangement.
Building Successful Futures & Commitment
Our responsibility extends beyond helping youth manage behaviors today. We are committed to preparing them for successful, independent futures.
We encourage participation in athletics, clubs, employment, volunteer opportunities, hobbies, faith communities when desired, and other positive community activities that foster confidence and belonging. We proudly attend sporting events, school functions, award ceremonies, performances, and other milestones because we believe youth deserve adults who consistently show up for them.
Throughout their stay, youth develop practical life skills including budgeting, meal preparation, laundry, household responsibilities, time management, communication, conflict resolution, employment readiness, decision-making, and healthy relationship skills. Every accomplishment—whether large or small—is an opportunity to build confidence and reinforce positive growth.
At Waller Home, our mission is to provide more than supervision—we provide support, guidance, structure, encouragement, and hope. Through the Teaching Family Model, trauma-informed care, individualized treatment, and meaningful relationships, we strive to help every young man discover his strengths, overcome challenges, and build the skills necessary to become a confident, responsible, and successful adult.
We are honored to be a part of each youth’s journey and remain committed to creating a home where healing is possible, growth is encouraged, and every individual is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Waller 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 details.
The Waller Home uses the Teaching-Family Model, where trained professionals teach social, emotional, and independent living skills through daily interactions, meals, chores, routines, and family-style meetings instead of relying on an institutional care structure.
Partner With Us for Youth Placement at the Waller Home
When a young person needs placement, the environment should do more than provide supervision. It should support healing, growth, structure, and meaningful progress. At the Waller Home in Perrysburg, we provide youth placement services in Ohio that combine evidence-based behavioral care, trauma-informed support, and a home-like setting designed to help youth build stronger futures. We’re proud to partner with county and state agencies to provide family-style care that supports successful reintegration and long-term development. So we hope you partner with us for youth placement by contacting our intake team today.
