Nova Center for Youth and Family

1. Nova Center for Youth and Family Huntsville, AL Gina Koger, LGSW - Director Susan Smith, LPC – Program Mgr.

2. AIM (Plan) • Engage and retain youth in the treatment and recovery process • Effect salutary change on substance use related functioning • Increase access to and retention in continuing care following residential treatment • Improve outcomes following residential treatment • Increase utilization of clinically appropriate levels of care • Increase protective factors and decrease risk factors from admission to residential treatment to discharge from continuing care

3. Change (Do) • Established working relationship with residential providers • Improved communication • Information sharing (assessment, tx plan, etc) • Utilized ASAM criteria to place youth coming from residential into appropriate level of care versus adherence to the “step down” philosophy previously used • Conducted walk through at each facility • Case Management to provide wrap around services to adolescents leaving residential treatment

4. RESULTS (study) • Most adolescents are seen within 1 week of discharge from residential tx • 46% of the referrals (n. 48) received by Nova were placed in continuing care between April 2008 and June 2009 (1 cl was placed in IOP) utilizing ASAM criteria • Implemented case management for substance abusing youth to increase functioning in other areas such as school, family, community • Began parenting group June 6, 2009

5. NEXT STEPS (Act) • Continue to nurture relationships with existing referral sources as well as new referral sources • Continue to utilize ASAM criteria to place youth in the appropriate level of care • Expand case management to provide wrap around services for all clients referred from residential, whether they participate in continuing care or not • Increase parental involvement in treatment

6. IMPACT (Business Case, Lessons Learned) • Five Levers • Lever 1 – Nova Center received funds through the grant to provide incentives for clients. As in-home intervention is a new service for adolescents, service descriptions were submitted to the SASD for review. This service will be piloted with the youth served by this grant. • Lever 2 – State guidelines did not allow in-home case management w/SA youth. Nova provided the state with a descriptions of in-home case management services to gain approval for billing and payment at a reasonable rate • Lever 3 – Utilize ASAM criteria to place youth in the appropriate level of care. Developed alternative levels of care to meet client/family needs. Utilized walk-through to improve consumer experience; reduction of paperwork by sharing assessment, treatment plan, and discharge plan with other providers; staff buy in. • Lever 4 – Increased communication with residential providers resulting in improved referral process and increased referrals. Networking and educating JPOs and judges about expanded services and continuing care • Lever 5 – There is currently a system in place for billing continuing care, case management, and/or individual and family therapy sessions. In-home services were recently approved by SASD. • Lessons Learned • Communication and networking with other treatment facilities and SASD has been invaluable. • Thinking outside the box can benefit both client and facility • Being open to constructive criticism and making changes when appropriate can be extremely beneficial to clients • Rome was not built in a day – be patient!! Results come to those who wait!