MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
Mission
Project Return is committed to providing a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where adolescent girls and young women in crisis can heal and grow. Through the development of self-esteem, resiliency, respect and responsibility, effective communication skills, and critical thinking, the girls realize their strengths and gain the ability to love and receive love.Organizational and Treatment Philosophy
Project Return’s organizational structure is unique. It can be visualized as a series of concentric circles, with the girls in the center. The first circle surrounding the girls represents the professionals who work directly with them – Resident Managers and Support Staff. Supporting those direct caregivers is the next circle, staff who work with all our residential and non-residential programs – the Executive Director, Clinical Director, Program Developer, Education Specialist, Life Skills/Vocational Coordinator, Nurse, Director of Development, and the Directors of Aftercare and HEAL. 
Surrounding this group is a third circle – mentors, volunteers, the Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board. They provide a caring and responsive “holding environment” for the Executive Director and program staff, who, in turn, care for and hold the direct care staff, who, in turn, hold the girls though flexible, safety-providing boundaries, structure, and unconditional love. Finally, our larger Community surrounds and supports all of who we are and what we do.
In addition to this unique, non-hierarchical organizational structure, our treatment philosophy is grounded in the belief that recovery from the past traumas stem from the development of healthy relationships and the self-esteem that follows. Creating an emotionally safe environment and teaching the tools needed to develop positive interactions with others are two of the mainstays of our programs.
Core Values
At the foundation of Project Return are core values we find essential in helping each girl discover her strengths and empower her to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Belonging
Project Return creates a family-like environment of stability, safety, trust, role models, guidance, hope, and a sense of belonging.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is communicated through belief and acceptance of an individual without judgment and without personal agenda.
Dare to Hope and Dream
Many of our girls come to us not daring to dream or hope that there are positive possibilities for their lives. Staff believes for them and holds their hopes until each girl can have enough faith in herself to believe in her future.
Healthy Self-Expression and Conflict Resolution
We value talking about feelings, as opposed to acting them out. The girls are taught how to communicate, negotiate and work through conflict.
A Staff that Seizes Moments of Growth
Project Return staff members must maintain a safe, nurturing environment, but also act in the moment to touch a girl's soul. They need to see the strengths in each girl and facilitate each girl's growth. They need to be able to take in love and give it unconditionally.
