To help youths with high-risk behavior, it takes strengths-based approaches. Foster family agencies and residential facilities now progress towards treatment and care for foster youth. But some of these youth fall into the high-risk categories. Such as the following:
· Commercially sexually exploited youth
· Substance abuse
· Fire setting or arson
· Gang involvement
· Sexual offenders
· Runaways
These are the high-risk behaviors that create the most trouble for placement. Most organizations in the past would look at an intake packet with these youths and say, “No way.” But in the new environment of the Family First Prevention Services Act , this is not possible. Because these youths need somewhere to go, and someone to help them.
They didn’t start with these issues. Through genetics, trauma, difficult home lives, something happened along the way. They are involved in these activities, but they can receive help.
To help these youths, it is best to understand what they have in common and know how to help. This is why three approaches utilize the youth’s strengths to try and help them improve.
1. Motivational Interviewing – these youths are very resistant to change. They got to the place where they’re at because of rejection, abuse, trauma, or neglect. They chose their behaviors, such as running away or gangs, and they rationalize why it works for them. To try and tell them differently doesn’t work. They don’t want to hear it. So meeting them where they’re at the help. Motivational Interviewing as a skill can help the practitioner be empathetic, listen and reflect, go with the youth’s resistance and be a sounding board. So the youth then is the change agent, not the practitioner.
2. Functional Behavior Analysis – each youth seeks out high-risk behavior for a reason. It gets their needs met. The runaway wants more freedom. The sexual offender wants control of their environment because they were maybe abused themselves. The gang member wants to feel part of a group, because their parents may have been absent or detached. Youths don’t seek high-risk behavior without a reason. And by finding the function of that behavior, the practitioner can teach them different skills, techniques, and strategies to help them change.
3. Harm Reduction – this approach started with Alan Marlatt in the 1990s when he looked at substance abuse treatment. Up until then, this type of treatment under the 12 step approach was either sobriety or using. All or nothing. Black or white. Dr. Marlatt felt that to help substance users, there had to be a more gray area, knowing that addictions will have relapses. That the behavior will always have a chance of occurring again. And so he developed this approach, which made a great impact on the field. Now it is being used in California for commercially sexually exploited youth. Because they can’t be expected to just leave their trafficking contact permanently. This also applies to runaways, gang offenders, and other high-risk behavior. Developing strategies to keep youths safe, and to give them options, helps them decrease the harm first. And as with Motivational Interviewing, the youth directs their care.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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