Waco Center for Youth

About Waco Center for Youth

The Waco Center for Youth is a residential treatment program in Texas designed for teenagers aged 13 to 17 who experience serious emotional or behavioral difficulties. The facility is managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and offers a broad set of supports, such as individual, family, and group therapy, medication oversight, medical care, therapeutic recreation, and schooling delivered in coordination with Axtell Independent School District. The center also provides an equine-based program, training focused on social interaction and self-regulation, dietary assistance, spiritual services, and discharge planning for continued care.

Treatment at the Waco Center for Youth follows a strength-oriented model that highlights each young person’s abilities and introduces new skills when needed. The program is structured around five guiding principles: Helping, Healing, Relationship, Responsibility, and Commitment. Residents receive their care on campus and attend school on-site. Education staff collaborate with students from throughout the state, supporting academic progress while also addressing behavioral and emotional concerns.

The center operates a behavior incentive approach in which youth can earn stars by reaching daily objectives connected to school, therapy, and other programming activities. Accumulated stars may be traded at an on-campus shop known as The CeNTER. Enrollment begins when a legal guardian starts the referral process. Referrals may come from local mental health agencies, state hospitals, or Child Protective Services, and prospective clients must satisfy defined requirements related to age, psychiatric diagnosis, and confirmed behavioral challenges that have occurred in at least two different settings.

Paying for treatment at Waco Center for Youth

Waco Center for Youth did not report which payment types it accepts. If you have Medicaid, ask whether the facility accepts your Texas Medicaid plan or can refer you to one that does. Most private plans must cover substance use treatment on terms comparable to other medical care under federal parity law.

Distance to specialized care from Waco

Measured from the population center of McLennan County, using SAMHSA locator data mapped by FindRehabMap:

• Nearest medical detox: Waco, about 1.4 miles
• Nearest methadone clinic (OTP): Waco, about 1.6 miles (1 within 25 miles)
• Nearest buprenorphine (Suboxone) provider: Waco, about 1.4 miles (3 within 25 miles)

See the McLennan County treatment map, methadone clinics near McLennan County and Suboxone doctors near McLennan County.

Other treatment facilities in Waco

See all 12 facilities in Waco · Residential · Outpatient · MAT · Accepts Medicare · Private insurance · Spanish