Mental Health Services

Youth and Community Services offer an outpatient mental health treatment program for youth ages 4-17. Our counselors see individuals struggling with a wide array of problems including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, and family conflict. Family participation is an integral part of the treatment process.

Treatment is individualized and may consist of individual, group, or family therapy. Youth and Community Services also coordinates with other community providers such as schools, physicians, legal system (probation department) and area hospitals. Case management services are available to assist families with issues such as housing, food, transportation, and leisure activities.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment

An outpatient substance abuse program is offered for adolescents. The focus of treatment is to help adolescents redirect their lifestyles in order to make good choices and be drug-free. Our program seeks to intervene with adolescents before their problem is severe enough to warrant more intensive treatment. Referrals are received from individuals, families, school guidance counselors, and juvenile probation officers. An initial assessment is conducted to determine the level of treatment needed. Individual, family, and group counseling may be recommended.

Adolescent Drug Court

The goal of Adolescent Drug Court is to reduce crime and recidivism, while promoting recovery and positive lifestyle changes through court supervision and intense substance abuse counseling. The program provides an alternative to incarceration.

The Adolescent Drug Court program is voluntary. Adolescents are given a choice between facing the normal consequences for their offences or participating in the program. The hearings are an important part of the adolescent’s recovery. At court, adolescents benefit from the assessments, positive reinforcement, and consequences of their actions. The court team consists of the judge, youth probation officer, public defender, and Youth and Community Services staff members. This team meets with the judge before the each hearing to discuss the adolescent’s progress and problems, and agrees upon a course of action. individuals then enter the courtroom and the judge hears each case.

Adolescent Drug Court individuals have clear, consistent, immediate consequences and rewards for their actions. In addition, adolescents who complete the program successfully benefit by having their charges dropped and beginning life after the program with a clean record.

Prevention Services

Youth and Community Services offer prevention programs to schools, parent groups, social services agencies, churches, and community organizations. We also provide substance abuse prevention, early intervention, and abeyance services for District 150 schools in Peoria. Our counselors offer evidence-based life skills programs to middle schools. Most services are available to the community at no charge.