Residential Services FAQs

We have the capacity to serve girls between the ages of six and 18 years old. Our home is located on a 70-acre campus alongside Mount Dora Christian Academy in Mount Dora, Florida.

Our residential children’s program offers support to children from many different backgrounds. These include children coming from dependent or neglected backgrounds who may have been exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment, and dysfunctional or broken family lifestyles. We also serve children who have little hope of reconciliation with their parents/guardians and need a comfortable, stable, structured, and supportive living environment and who have demonstrated an inability to function and handle the emotional demands of their current living environment. Children who meet these qualifications are candidates for our program.

Mount Dora Children’s Home shares a campus with Mount Dora Christian Academy. The Academy is a fully accredited school that serves children from preschool through 12th grade. Students who meet the Academy admission criteria will attend MDCA contingent upon space availability. 

In addition to receiving a quality private education, the children in our residential children’s services program receive private tutoring, individual or group therapy by a licensed counselor, testing and psychological evaluations as needed, career/college planning, and training in independent living skills by trained child-care workers. Each home is staffed by Christian houseparents who offer guidance and stability in a home setting. Children and houseparents attend church together, and children are encouraged to take an active role in youth groups and other church activities.

No child is refused admission to our residential services for children program because of the inability of the parents or guardians to pay the full cost of care. Payment is based upon a sliding fee scale.

To begin the process, the parent/guardian can complete the online program inquiry questionnaire or contact Mount Dora Children’s Home Social Services at (352) 383-9906 to speak to a social worker. Once the program inquiry questionnaire has been submitted and reviewed, you will be contacted for additional information, and if appropriate, an interview will be scheduled. After completing the paperwork and interview, an admission decision will be determined. When considering a child’s admission, we will evaluate every child without regard to race, color, sex, handicap, age, religion, or national origin.

Mount Dora Children’s Home is registered and licensed by the Florida Association of Christian Child Care Agencies to provide care for children. We are active members of Network 1:27 and the Coalition of Residential Excellence (CORE). 

When a parent/guardian enrolls a child in our residential services for children program, the parent/guardian retains custody. Mount Dora Children’s Home does not seek custody of any child placed in our program.