Intake of a youth into a residential treatment center is disruptive to both the child and to their family. Counseling agencies have an obligation to ensure that the emotional and informational needs of the resident and the resident's family are being addressed during this difficult time. This report offers a solution strategy to address the needs of the residents and their parents through a variety of approaches. The strategy includes residents receiving assistance by a trained peer helper for the first 24 hours of their placement. In addition, the program stresses training for staff members to better assist parents and residents with the emotional upheaval that placement has added to their lives. Following the implementation of those steps, case interviews were conducted with residents and staff, demonstrating an increase in the quality of the orientation process for both residents and their families. Appendices to the report include: an admissions checklist, a new resident orientation checklist, an agency fact sheet, a resident fact sheet, and complete staff and peer helper training programs. Contains 11 references. (Author/KW)