The intervention program being examined in this case is the Youth Substance Use Disorder Treatment by SHIELDS for Families. The intervention primarily targets youth who are struggling with substance abuse and drug addiction. In theory, the SHIELDS intervention program is oriented towards adolescents and young adults in probation systems. In addition, the program serves the youthful population of South Los Angeles, which is aged between 12 and 20 years (SHIELDS for Families, 2019). For that reason, there are very few requirements for male and female adolescents who intend to enroll in the program. Although SHIELDS has played a key role in reducing drug abuse, there are several weaknesses that need to be promptly addressed.
In essence, SHIELDS for Families is an organization that was founded in 1991 to deal with the epidemic of drug abuse. The organization primarily obtains funds and resources from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Los Angeles County Probation Department (SHIELDS for Families, 2019). The main goal of the program is to support families who suffer from substance abuse problems. To achieve this, the program offers participants counseling as well as drug and alcohol education. As a result, SHIELDS tends to provide perinatal, outpatient, and mental health care to 60-75 adolescents each year (SHIELDS for Families, 2019). Clearly, SHIELDS has been integral for youth consigned to probation in Los Angeles.
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The SHIELDS intervention program relies on the use of evidence-based practices to provide drug abuse treatment to clients. In addition, the organization collaborates with other community interventions to provide clothing, food, and housing to probationers in need (SHIELDS for Families, 2019). In order for the organization to address the rising cases of drug abuse, SHIELDS often utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy is suitable when individuals become conscious of their attitudes, values, and beliefs, thereby encouraging them to embrace positive (Cox, Allen, & Hanser, 2014). The use of therapy is crucial for urging youth in Los Angeles to turn away from substance abuse and drug addiction.
In this case, the main gap in the SHIELD program is that the intervention does not allocate sufficient time to probationers who require substance abuse treatment. According to SHIELDS for Families, the organization caters to more than 10,000 families each year (SHIELDS for Families, 2019). As a result, adolescents in juvenile systems tend to receive insufficient time for treatment when compared to ordinary adolescents. Research indicates that the majority of patients who require substance abuse treatment often lack access to sufficient care (Blevins, Rawat, & Stein, 2018). This statement is more accurate for probationers who require specialized treatment to deal with behavioral issues aligned with drug addiction.
Although the program has a long history of success in Los Angeles, it can be perceived that the intervention has a serious weakness. The allocation of insufficient time is a problem that reduces the effectiveness of behavioral therapy interventions. Health practitioners who are involved in evidence-based behavioral therapies deliver broad interventions for juvenile delinquency; nonetheless, it is crucial to understand that the role of mental health services increases over time (Young, Greer, & Church, 2017). With that said, SHIELD can remove this gap by allocating more treatment time so that probationers can benefit from behavioral therapy.
SHIELDS for Families is an organization that provides quality healthcare services to youth who struggle with drug addiction. Although the program has attained considerable accomplishments in recent years, there are several recommendations that can improve the efficiency of treatment. When dealing with adolescents in juvenile systems, the program should focus on allocating more time so that participants can gain more benefits from behavioral therapy. In the end, this intervention program will increase the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment for youth in South Los Angeles.
References
Blevins, C. E., Rawat, N., & Stein, M. D. (2018). Gaps in the substance use disorder
treatment referral process: provider perceptions. Journal of addiction medicine , 12 (4), 273-279.
Cox, S. M., Allen, J. M., & Hanser, R. D. (2017). Juvenile justice: A guide to theory, policy,
and practice . Sage Publications.
SHIELD for Families. (2019). Youth for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. Shield for
Families: believing, building, becoming. https://www.shieldsforfamilies.org/youth-substance-abuse-treatment/
Young, S., Greer, B., & Church, R. (2017). Juvenile delinquency, welfare, justice, and
therapeutic interventions: a global perspective. BJPsych Bulletin , 41 (1), 21-29.
