Substance Abuse Services

Adolescent Services Unit

Program Manager: Martha Stevens, MS, CSAC

Staff Name - Position:
Thomas W. Bock, MA, LPC, CSAC – Counselor
Jaclyn Gramazio, MSW – Counselor
Lonnie Smith, M.S. – Clinician (Adolescent Drug Court)

Unit Description:

Our Goal: —————————————————————————

• Assist teens in addressing and overcoming delinquency and legal problems.
• Treat adolescent substance abuse and addiction issues.
• Provide diagnosis, treatment, and coping skills for teens with physical, emotional, or behavioral health concerns.
• Assist teens in preparing for the future by addressing vocational and education concerns.

Our Plan: —————————————————————————

To offer accessible, professional, and innovative services while partnering with the community to provide culturally competent solutions to problems plaguing today’s teens.  Our team offers pre-treatment sessions, community base case management, evidence-based interventions, substance abuse screenings, evaluations, drug testing, education, supportive counseling on recovery to parent/caregivers.

Purpose/Vision: ———————————————————————

We are concerned professionals acting as agents of change to adolescents from ages 13 to 17 years experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs.  We offer evidence-based clinical services targeted specifically for adolescents and their families struggling with addiction problems.  

Services for Teens/Families:

Intensive Case Management Services:
Teen services begin with a comprehensive assessment of their: substance use/abuse patterns; behavior; trauma past/present; medical and psychiatric status; educational status; family dynamics; and legal, social, and emotional problems.  This process can include a SASSI screening, drug testing, DSM-IV classification and ASAM screening.  The engagement and outreach process involves individual approaches such as The Stages of Change, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Counseling, and/or education and supportive counseling.  Parents or caregivers are also provided with education and supportive counseling to help with the teen’s recovery efforts.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET):
A treatment approach embedded in all of our services that provides teens an opportunity to explore their motivation for change. This approach encourages teens to use their own abilities to make an effective change for themselves

Adolescent Drug Treatment Court Services:
Provide the assessment and intensive treatment services for the District 13 Drug Treatment Court through contract with the City of Richmond and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.  The Richmond Juvenile Drug Court is presently funded through a combination of state and federal grants to the City of Richmond.  The alcohol and other drug assessment and treatment services provided by the RBHA are purchased under contracts with the Drug Court.

Outpatient Treatment Services:
This non-residential program is contracted by Richmond Behavioral Health Authority Substance Abuse Services Division, to treat adolescent substance abusers in a clinic setting. Challenge Discovery’s Virginia Health Center (VHC) has treated adolescents since 1980.  This service is licensed by the state of Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.  Services provided include:  early interventions (brief and school-based); pre-treatment readiness and education; individual, young users, parent support, dual diagnosed, anger management, 18 year old, alumni, gender specific, and peer groups; socialization/recreational activities; and aftercare/relapse groups. Treatment approaches incorporate evidence base interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral, Cannabis Youth Treatment Series (CYT), pro-social activities and skill building interventions. VHC’s clinical philosophy is that no single treatment approach is appropriate for all individuals. The program has highly-qualified licensed and licensed ready clinicians.  Virginia Health Center staff has over 120 years combined experience in the field of counseling youth with addiction issues.  Staff credentials include: PhD Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Certified National Drug and Alcohol Counselor; Certified Adolescent Bullying Prevention Specialist; Licensed Clinical Social Worker, PhD licensed Psychologist, Master’s Rehabilitation Counselor, and Bachelors Social Worker. 

Adolescent Residential Treatment Services:
Overnight alcohol and other drug abuse rehabilitation services provided to teens offer gender specific campuses-- Boys Recovery Lodge is a 12 bed residential, ages 14 to 17 and the Girls Recovery Lodge is an 8 bed residential facility for adolescent girls ages 13 to 18.   This CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited service was founded in 1990.   Program services include individualized treatment plans, group counseling, individual counseling, family programs, random drug testing, parent education seminars, licensed school on site, alcohol and other drug abuse education.   This contracted service must be authorized for city resident through RBHA; however, other funding options are available such as self-pay and most major insurance carriers as well as Community Service Board (CSB), Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funding.  Medicaid funding accepted.

Our Team’s Unique Attributes: ————————————————

Our Partners: ———————————————————————

VA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of Justice Services, Department of Social Services, District 13 Drug Treatment Court, City of Richmond, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court; Truancy & Diversion, Gang Reduction and  Intervention Program (GRIP),  Member, Project TREAT

Our Accomplishments: ————————————————————

• Published journal article (Summer 2008) in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology regarding Project MAATCH, “The interactive role of working alliance and counselor-client interpersonal behaviors in adolescent substance abuse treatment.”
• Martha Stevens recently awarded the 2008 Counselor of the Year award given by Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (VAADAC)
• Martha Stevens participated in a CSAT site visit for DMHMRSAS’ Project TREAT, and provided expertise on the Substance Abuse Coalition, interagency collaboration, and other issues related to adolescent substance abuse services in the state of Virginia.
• Thomas Bock received his LPC & CSAC license/certification for the State of Virginia in 2008
• Member of the Advisory Board for Juvenile Drug Court 2008-2009
• Participated in a number of community affairs and health fairs throughout the city.   Recognized by the Consumer & Family Affairs Coordinator for participating in a record number of community events for the 2007. 
• Co-trained a group of 30 ministers at the City’s Police Academy on Grief, Dying and Death.
• Member of the Joint Meeting on Adolescent Treatment Effectiveness — Reviewer of 2007 abstract and presenter submissions.

Our Past Challenges: ————————————————————

• Referrals primarily criminal justice
• No 12 step meetings available within the city for teens
• Parent engagement and retention
• Improvement of adolescent retention rates
• Locating experienced outpatient and residential substance abuse specific treatment providers.
• Lack of providers focused on substance abuse step down options for teens
• Accessing Medicaid reimbursement to its’ fullest potential
• Accessing mentorship options for adolescent services

Our Goals for the Future: ——————————————————

Client Satisfaction:

• Provide more support to adolescents served
• Decrease adolescent involvement in illegal activities
• Increase adolescent involvement and success in school
• Improve retention of adolescents

Resource Management:

• Locate grant funding options
• Increase collaborative efforts
• Increase staff productivity

Internal Process:

• Increase the availability of evidence-based treatment interventions for substance abusing teens by 1 in 2009
• Increase the successfully completed interventions with existing teens & their caregivers by 40 %
• Increase use of research proven best practices in existing programs by two in 2009.

Employee Growth and Development:

• Increase the number of staff recognized for awards
• Add two Certified Substance Abuse Counselors in 2009

Directly-Operated Service Expansion

• Locate tutors for teens in addiction treatment services
• Seek referrals from providers other than criminal justice 
• Connect teens with vocational resources
• Transportation to counseling appointments for teens and parents

Primary Funding Source: State General Funds