Chestnut Health Systems' Bloomington Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescent Substance Abusers (From Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment in the United States: Exemplary Models From a National Evaluation Study, P 57-80, 2003, Sally J. Stevens, Andrew R. Morral, eds., -- See NCJ-19

• NCJ Number: 198900
• Author(s): Susan Harrington Godley; Richard Risberg; Loree Adams; Alan Sodetz
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): TI11894
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses the Chestnut Health Systems’ (CHS) Bloomington, Illinois, outpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adolescent substance abusers.

Abstract

CHS is part of a larger system of adolescent services for 12-to 18-year-olds that includes early intervention services, day treatment, and residential treatment. CHS is a private not-for-profit behavioral health care corporation that offers both substance abuse and mental health services to consumers of all ages. The program is based on a blended therapeutic approach, drawing upon 4 theories of behavioral and emotional change and including 12-step concepts and approaches. All levels of care, as well as medical and psychiatric services, are located in one facility. Of youths under age 21 admitted to Chestnut, 63 percent are seen in outpatient settings. Components of the program include a biopsychosocial assessment, an individualized treatment plan, individual therapy sessions, psychiatric services, and random urine screens. The programs provide a continuum of care ranging from 1 to 12 hours per week. Recruitment for outpatient services is based primarily on strong linkages with other social service agencies, criminal justice authorities, and schools. The majority of the clients are male, white, attended school in the past 90 days, and live with a single parent. Placement in level of treatment is based on presenting clinical characteristics. The program recognizes that many of the youth that participate in treatment are served by multiple agencies and institutions. Ultimately, clients are either transferred to another level of care or discharged from all CHS services with one of the following three dispositions: as planned, against staff advice, or at staff request. The program uses discharge status as an indicator of treatment success. A review of 41 clients discharged since the advent of the Adolescent Treatment Model study suggests that approximately 56 percent of the adolescents had “as planned” discharges. 1 table, 25 references