Youth and Family Services Admissions

Dawn Farm’s Youth and Family Services program serves alcoholics, drug addicts and substance abusers referred directly by families, schools, physicians, and/or themselves. Juveniles are eligible for the program if they are:

• Between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time of referral

Given our experience with gender, it is our goal to serve 40% females. It is also our intent to work with youth and their family members. Returning the youth to their community requires a “wrap around approach” and getting families involved is a key component, along with churches and local youth organizations.

We admit people without regard to their drug of choice and in no way limit admission based on nationality, race, religion, marital status, sexual preference or political belief.

Clients with co-occurring psychiatric symptoms will be assessed to determine if the symptoms are part of primary psychiatric disorder or secondary to substance misuse. If the symptoms are determined to be primary or if there is concern about the client’s safety a referral to psychiatric care will be made. In either case, the client will be monitored and the treatment plan will be changed if these symptoms are not improving.

Clients with HIV/AIDS are referred for both supportive and medical services, and of course, universal precautions are observed at all times.

For clients with medical problems (asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) we offer medical referrals and attempt to arrange health education where appropriate.

Some of the risk and protective factors that may be addressed include:

• Early aggressive behavior
• Lack of or ineffective parental supervision
• Substance use by parent/caregiver
• Substance use by peers
• Family history of drug abuse
• Poor self control
• Social rejection
• Negative school experience
• Academic failure
• Poor social coping skills
• Misconceptions of the extent and acceptability of drug abusing behaviors
• Chaotic home environment
• Protective factors:
• Impulse control
• Parental monitoring
• Academic competence (of self and peers)
• Strong community attachment
• Non-using parents
• Non-using peers
• Parental support and involvement
• Strong bond between parents and youth
• Parents meet financial, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of youth