PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH

Maria was 15 years old when she was referred to PROTOTYPES' Adolescent Substance Abuse Program by her probation officer after an arrest for drinking and smoking marijuana in public. During the extensive initial assessment, Maria began to understand the connection between traumatic events that happened in her life, her emotional reactions, and her history of substance abuse. When she was 13, her father had passed away from cancer. Afraid to talk to her grieving mother about her own loss and grief, Maria turned to a friend at school, who recommended using marijuana to cope with her feelings. Through Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Enhancement Therapy, PROTOTYPES staff was able to engage Maria in a journey of self discovery. She came to the program every week and participated in individual, family, and group therapy, as well as substance abuse counseling. She found that art was a helpful way to tell her story and express her feeling. At the end of her required treatment, Maria continued to see her therapist.

At 18, she is a clean and sober high school graduate applying to a local University to study art.

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program

PROTOTYPES' Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program provides group and individual psychotherapy, as well as a comprehensive Drug and Alcohol Assessment, to adolescents and young adults ages 12 to 21. The core of the program is an evidence-based treatment, MET/CBT (Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy). Additional program components include treatment of co-occurring disorders, alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, domestic violence education, self-esteem development, anger management, family support, and case management. The treatment team works with every client and his/her family to create an individualized program. The team works with schools, social service agencies, probation, the court system, and other community groups to ensure that all clients and their families can access needed resources.

For information on the Adolescent Program, please contact the Program Director at 909-398-4383.

Re-Entry Program

PROTOTYPES' Re-Entry Program is designed to prevent/reduce substance abuse and HIV and hepatitis transmission among young African American and Latino men and women, ages 18 to 24, who are re-entering the community after incarceration. Based on a community needs assessment developed in collaboration with a group of key stakeholders, the Reentry Program is: developing and enhancing local capacity and local community resources to address prevention needs; training community stakeholders and service providers, including faith-based organizations; and implementing evidence-based interventions to help these young people reduce their risk behaviors.

For information on the Re-Entry Program, please contact Ruth Slaughter, Division Director, at 310-641-7795.

Project YOUTH EMBRACE

Young Offenders Undergoing Treatment & Healing Employment, Mental Health Services, Building Supportive Families, Restorative Justice, Addiction Services, Community Health, Education. Project YOUTH EMBRACE is an innovative collaborative including PROTOTYPES (lead agency), Homeboy Industries, the Los Angeles County Public Defender and Probation Departments, and Department of Juvenile Justice Parole designed to provide comprehensive re-entry services for juvenile offenders returning from custody or out-of-home placement. The project offers a continuum of assessment, treatment, and wraparound services that commence when the youth is still in custody and continues during and following his or her release, culminating, as needed, in housing placement and aftercare in the community. Serving 300 youthful offenders ages 16 to 25 who are male and female parolees under the jurisdiction of DJJ or local offenders under supervision of the Probation Department, the project will improve youthful offender outcomes and reduce recidivism by effectively implementing and delivering a rehabilitative program utilizing evidence-based efforts. Services are delivered on-site at DJJ institutions and probation camps (while in custody), PROTOTYPES sites in South Los Angeles and Pomona, and at Homeboy Industries' new facility located one-quarter mile from Men's Central Jail/Twin Towers.

For information on Project YOUTH EMBRACE, please contact the Program Director at 310-641-7795.

See also Mental Health Services for Transitional Age Youth (TAY)