HECTOR GARZA CENTER
The Hector Garza Center is a Joint Commission accredited residential
treatment center located in San Antonio, Texas.
Services at Hector Garza are available to both male and female youth, ages 10
to 17, who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, psychological, educational,
and social problems.
Hector Garza Center provides residential treatment at the Specialized Service
Level and the Intensive Service Level, as well as Intensive Psychiatric Transition
Program (IPTP) services as determined by the Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services. We also offer substance abuse prevention, education, and
treatment services to any Hector Garza residents who have a history of drug or
alcohol experimentation or abuse.
Our spacious facility is situated on a 12-acre suburban campus just 15 minutes
north of downtown San Antonio. The facility hosts an on-site school, gymnasium,
commercial kitchen, cafeteria, group and resident rooms, conference rooms,
laundry facilities, a full size swimming pool, and generous outdoor athletics and
recreation space.
Hector Garza provides a highly structured and intensive therapeutic environment
coupled with the flexibility to address the distinct treatment needs of each youth
and his or her family system through our comprehensive clinical assessments,
individualized treatment planning, and evidence-based, trauma-informed care.
TREATMENT SERVICES
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Treatment services at Hector Garza are provided to all youth according to their individualized treatment
plans and are designed to maintain and improve functioning.
Educational services are provided on-site at the Hector Garza
Center through our partnership with the John H. Wood Jr. Charter
School. The school utilizes the John H. Wood, Jr. Charter District
Residential Learning Model, a research-driven, evidenced-based
approach to quality education for students in residential facilities.
The treatment plan development and review process is coordinated and implemented by each resident’s
assigned licensed, master’s level therapist. A multi-disciplinary team approach is utilized to ensure effective
communication and teamwork during the treatment planning process.
Services are provided to focus on and cover a broad array of treatment areas that relate to delinquent,
maladaptive or dysfunctional behaviors. These processes vary in structure and design, but all encourage
active participation from the youth.
KEY SERVICES
• Individual Therapy
• Aggression Replacement Training
• Group Therapy
• Substance Abuse Prevention, Education, and Treatment
• Family Therapy
• Psychiatric and Psychological Services
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Psycho-Educational Groups (Life Skills)
Therapists are trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As providers of TF-CBT, therapists
recognize the effects of trauma in youth both developmentally and behaviorally, implement early identification
strategies and assess for trauma, and use proven interventions for treatment. Play Therapy, Sand Therapy
and Equine Therapy are all utilized on an individualized basis.
Sanctuary Model®
Hector Garza utilizes the Sanctuary Model® for Trauma Informed Care as the framework for treatment.
The Sanctuary Model® is a blueprint for clinical and organizational change which, at its core, promotes
safety and recovery from adversity through
the active creation of a trauma-informed community. We promote and
residents commit to a culture of
non-violence, emotional intelligence,
social learning, democracy, open
communication, social responsibility,
and growth & change.
This multi-tiered, personalized, and holistic model leads to
differentiated instruction and student-led inquiry for a lifetime of
learning and positive decision-making. At the core of the
residential learning model is a foundation curriculum, delivered
through our 7 Step Instructional Model. The 7 Step Model is
personalized for students based on data from comprehensive
assessments. The residential learning model is supported by
specialized professional staff including a highly qualified and
dually certified teaching staff (content/grade levels and special education certifications), school
psychologists (LLSPs), special education inclusion teachers, and highly qualified instructional assistants.
Collaboration with treatment staff and facility staff ensures a balanced approach to learning and recovery.
SmartBoards, virtual desktops, laptops, and personal learning devices are all used for core instruction and
enrichment. Included in a student’s instructional toolkit are programs such as:
• Renaissance Place Star Reading and Math for diagnostic assessments and Accelerated
Math for math skills development;
• Reading Plus - utilized to develop reading proficiency and comprehension skills; and
• The A+ Learning System - used for credit recovery, acceleration, and enrichment.
Students can accrue credits, recover credits, and/or accelerate credit accrual. Students enroll in English,
Math, Science and Social Studies based on ability and prior course completions. Students also participate
in enrichment and elective courses, such as Life College, a course which develops life and social skills
in preparing them for transition to non-residential school and life.
Credits and course work transfer back to home schools
upon discharge from Hector Garza.
Our goal is to make learning
relevant, challenging,
meaningful, and fun.
Our mission is to
inspire students to
create a life worth living.
We help children to do
their best and fall back
in love with learning.
ATHLETIC AND
RECREATIONAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Youth at Hector Garza can earn up to 100 hours of community service in a six month period through
the facility’s community service program.
Hector Garza offers a wide variety of
athletic and recreational services. These
services teach values such as teamwork,
sportsmanship, work ethic, respect and
overcoming adversity. They are intended to provide
an outlet for youth and to promote the therapeutic value
that sports can offer to children. In addition, recreational
services introduce those in care to fundamentals, skills and proper
techniques around becoming a better team player.
Residents are given the opportunity to perform off-campus services in an effort to benefit their community.
Our partner organizations in the community service program include:
• City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department
• San Antonio’s Graffiti Removal Program
• San Antonio Animal Defense League
• Mission Road Developmental Center (special-needs children)
• Habitat for Humanity
Our athletic and recreational services include:
• Texas Charter School Academic and Athletic League Sports
Soccer
Flag Football
• Special Olympic Volunteer Program
• Saddle Light Center (caring for and grooming horses)
Volleyball
Basketball
• Swimming
• Boys Scouts of America (low and high level ropes courses)
• Attendance at various sporting events:
NBA – San Antonio Spurs
WNBA – San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Scorpions Soccer
San Antonio Missions Minor League Baseball
San Antonio Rampage Hockey
STRENGTHENING FAMILY CONNECTIONS
We welcome and encourage families to be involved with their children’s treatment from the day of
admission at Hector Garza. We strongly believe that family involvement in the treatment process helps
to create positive treatment outcomes.
Each youth’s therapist will work closely with family members to seek input into the treatment process,
facilitate regular communications on child and family issues, and to plan for continuing care or
reunification upon their child’s discharge from Hector Garza. Family therapy sessions are based on each
resident’s individual needs and can be conducted at the facility or via telephone.
Family members are encouraged to set up appointments to visit residents during weekend visitation
hours. As each youth successfully meets treatment objectives and moves closer to a successful
discharge, he or she will have an increased opportunity to participate in day or overnight passes with
family members in order to help facilitate the reunification process.
To learn more about Hector Garza Center or
to make a confidential inquiry or referral,
contact Joey McCormick at:
Phone: (210) 517-4079
Fax: (281) 657-9718
Email: [email protected]
Hector Garza Center
620 East Afton Oaks Blvd.
San Antonio, TX 78232
Phone: (210) 568-8600
Fax: (210) 490-9430
Email: [email protected]
The Hector Garza Center is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services, Joint Commission accredited, and partnering with the
Sanctuary® Institute for clinical and organizational change.