East Texas Open Door, Inc (ETOD) is a private, non-profit organization established in 1987 to serve children in the East Texas area. Through the years, ETOD has expanded services to reach the entire state of Texas. ETOD started with an Emergency Youth Shelter and expanded its services years later to include a Therapeutic Group Home which later became a Residential Treatment Center (RTC). The Emergency Youth Shelter provided a safe haven for both boys and girls, ages birth to 17. The RTC at one time provided long-term care for both boys and girls but in recent years was licensed for only girls ages 8 – 18 and are Moderate and Specialized levels of care.
On October 15, 2009 the Emergency Youth Shelter transitioned to a General Residential Operation (GRO) for children and adolescents, that are Basic and Moderate levels of care, ages 5-18. This home offers more freedoms for its residents. It is a place where some girls from the RTC may move from a more restrictive, supervised setting into a more autonomous environment, all within the confines of the ETOD campus. In the near future, we hope to expand the GRO to males so that sibling groups would be able to be together on campus.
ETOD’s campus consists of four houses with large private backyards. Two houses are turn-of-the century Victorian type houses which house the RTC and one which may expand the GRO. The GRO is located across the street. Our small corner house serves as our on-campus school for residents who require a smaller Special Education classroom.
Our facilities are located near historic downtown Marshall, providing access to a variety of educational services, cultural festivities, recreational activities and healthcare providers.