Healthy Kids - Healthy Communities

Project Description for 2001-JS-FX-0009

The goal of this project is to reduce the incidence of violence and other antisocial behaviors in a focused population of youth identified as high risk for juvenile delinquency. The program is a comprehensive "wraparound team approach". The program will provide to at-risk children: access to appropriate medical assistance, psychiatric and psychological evaluation, provision of a structured therapeutic activity program for youths who are unable to participate in community activities due to the severity of their emotional and behavioral needs. The project will provide two program services: Community Services, and Day Treatment. Children may be involved in either one or both, depending on their needs. The program will provide education and training to the community on issues related to mental health and substance abuse. This will be accomplished by providing the following services: the six local school districts (Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, Finley, Burbank, and Benton City) will be offered the opportunity to have a qualified chemical dependency counselor provide an educational presentation on substance abuse.

The program is available to children and adolescents ages 7-18, who reside in Benton and Franklin Counties, and are found to have a diagnosable mental disorder. In addition, children may also have a history of trauma or abuse, of aggressive and appositional behaviors, psychosis, substance abuse, and other emotional and behavioral problems. Children who have significant developmental delay will not be served in the program.