CASPAR Youth Services has responded to the alarming rate of substance use among school aged youth by instituting an adolescent treatment model that integrates youth development outcomes with key indicators of positive substance abuse treatment. High school aged youth are referred by the schools and the courts to CASPAR Youth Services for a thorough evaluation to determine the extent and patterns of their use and the level of care they require.

Individual and group counseling are offered to those youth for whom ongoing weekly treatment is recommended. Youth requiring a more structured treatment experience participate in intensive individual and group services several times a week. For high risk youth who are unable to make a commitment to treatment, CASPAR Youth Services offers supportive services in the schools, on-site treatment readiness groups at various community locations, and positive after-school activities, including volunteering at CASPAR’s shelter.

Offering service options to youth in the context of their schools and at off-site after-school locations provides flexibility and promotes access to treatment. By employing a non-stigmatizing approach and building upon adolescents’ existing strengths, CASPAR Youth Services strives to empower youth to make healthy decisions.