Emergency Shelter > The Program The purpose of the UMHC Emergency Shelter for Youth is to provide a highly structured and comprehensive program of shelter care to children needing emergency placement. Children receive professional care in a safe living environment while authorities seek to stabilize the families or secure alternative placement for the child. Children ages eight to eighteen will find a caring, compassionate atmosphere in this facility. Our services are performed in conjunction with the efforts of the contacting agency. The emergency shelter is a modern, on-story building. The shelter contains an on-site kitchen and dining facilities, a medical station, and school. The facilities include a gymnasium, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, sand volleyball court, and game room. The shelter building features separate sleeping quarters for both boys and girls. Additionally, each child is given his or her own bedroom to ensure privacy. A team of dedicated staff provides round-the-clock professional care. The shelter has a staff to client ratio of 1:4. This ratio ensures ample direct care staff to attend to the needs of the residents. The direct care staff members provide the children with valuable supervision and guidance, and assist the children with basic personal skills such as completing a daily chore, cleaning their rooms, and doing their laundry. A Licensed Practical Nurse is on-call 24 hours a day. Each resident receives a health screening within the first 24 hours of placement. In addition to attending to any health issues that may arise, the nurse ensures DPW and HIPPA requirements are met. The administrative staff, the nurse, and the life skills coordinator meet weekly to discuss the client's needs and progress.  Emergency Shelter Information Links:  Introduction  The Program (You Are Here)  Education  Recreation  Life Skills   Referral Information