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Adult Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Dilworth Kids Program for Children
Adolescent Education and Awareness Program
Continuing Care and Extended Care

The Dilworth Center supports the American Medical Association’s definition of alcoholism in describing chemical dependency as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often both progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over chemical use, preoccupation with the drug, use of the drug despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.

The onset of chemical dependency in the adolescent stage of human development can result in arrested development preventing the sufferer from maturing into healthy adulthood. Consequently, treatment issues must address not only chemical dependency itself, but also the healthy integration of coping strategies or living skills appropriate for the adolescent’s stage of development. The Dilworth Center believes that recovery from chemical dependency must begin with complete abstinence from all mood-altering chemicals. We believe that the best single mechanism for ensuring long-term recovery is active participation in mutual-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). The Dilworth Center believes that throughout the treatment process our patients, as well as their families, deserve the same dignity and quality of care as those suffering from any other disease.

Our goal is to provide a treatment regimen that will maximize the chances of long-term recovery for all our patients. Healthy support by both adults and peers throughout the process is an essential component of recovery. Adolescents prosper in recovery more often when their home lives and social lives, as well as school and work environments, are supportive of their recovery goals. The Dilworth Center feels that it is our responsibility to assist our patients and their families in effectively treating the chemical dependency and helping them structure positive support systems. We believe that treatment indeed works, and that effective treatment can be conducted on an outpatient basis. Current research indicates that continued drug abstinence rates are identical between adolescents who completed inpatient treatment programs and outpatient treatment programs.

The Dilworth Center Adolescent Treatment Program is a 20-week, multi-level treatment program with provisions for longer-term treatment if indicated. Accommodations for longer-term participation in treatment will be made on an individualized basis. Level 1 is a minimum of eight weeks of Intensive Outpatient Treatment (9 hours weekly). Level 2 is a minimum of four weeks of Outpatient Treatment (5.25 hours weekly). Level 3 is a minimum of four weeks of Outpatient Treatment (3.5 hours weekly). Level 4 is a minimum of four weeks of Continuing Care Treatment (1.75 hours weekly). Our program is designed to maximize continued treatment involvement through successful treatment completion. Structured intervention strategies, should relapse occur at any time during the treatment experience, are continually utilized. Components of treatment include the following.

1.	Disease Education – Patients are instructed on the dynamics of chemical dependency and how the disease relates to their recovery. The recovery process itself is described in detail through the use of speakers, films and over 18 different interactive presentations. Topics include “The Disease of Chemical Dependency”, “Denial”, and “Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome”.
2.	12 Step Work – Patients will be guided through the first three steps of the 12 Steps of AA and NA. This will be done with the help of work booklets, group therapy, and AA or NA sponsors.
3.	Group Therapy Sessions – Group therapy is a primary mode of treatment delivery for patients at the Dilworth Center. Group offers the ideal opportunity for peer interaction and problem solving with the assistance and guidance of professional facilitation. Movement from one treatment level to another for Dilworth Center patients is in part contingent upon the completion treatment plan objectives assigned in group. Group therapy is conducted during each treatment episode in each of the four levels of care.
4.	Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous - Active participation in these programs is an essential and critical component of on-going recovery. An introduction and socialization into these mutual-help groups begins during treatment with the hope that meeting attendance will continue post-discharge. Patients and family members will attend meetings as part of their treatment regimen. Formal introductions to members of the recovering community are facilitated by the Dilworth Center staff.
5.	Family and Systems Therapy – Chemical dependency within individuals typically affects the systems within which the individual operates. Interpersonal relationships, families and peer groups are typical examples of systems often influenced by chemical dependency related behaviors. Families are particularly impacted, in part because the amount of time the adolescent has spent within that system, as well as the obvious emotional ties between parents and their children. The Dilworth Center offers a Family Treatment Program that recognizes the significant influences families have in both the progression of the disease and the recovery process. The importance of family participation in the treatment of adolescents cannot be overstated. Family treatment at the Dilworth Center consists of education and support mechanisms including classroom instruction, group therapy, and family conjoint sessions designed to impact the health and operation of the family system. If needed, families are offered assistance in coordinating a treatment resistant adolescent’s entry into treatment, through a series of counseling sessions, prior to the adolescent’s actual admission into treatment. Extended individualized work with other systems, including community systems such as schools, the criminal justice system, and peer groups is addressed as well.
6.	On-on-One Counseling – Individual counseling sessions are utilized when deemed appropriate by the treatment team. For example, the development of treatment plans, with measurable goals and objectives, is usually conducted during individual sessions.
7.	Peer Influence – Peers, including treatment alumni and members of the recovering community, are powerful influences on the behavior of our adolescent patients. Productive change agents such as group therapy and AA/NA meetings owe their success, in part, to the power of peer influence. Recovering peer volunteers are used in treatment to facilitate various therapeutic activities. For example, peer facilitators may be used during some group sessions in which AA/NA literature is studied.
8.	Attaining and Developing Non-Chemical Coping Skills - Interruption of the maturation process is a common result of active chemical dependency in adolescents. This arrested development needs to be addressed with the education and support that results in the healthy development of effective, non-chemical coping skills. Staff members will assist patients and family members in exploring methods and interventions that foster the development of the discipline and responsibility necessary to achieve successful treatment completion.

The Adolescent Treatment Program consists of four levels of care.

Level 1: Intensive Outpatient (8 weeks minimum)

Level 2: Outpatient (4 weeks minimum)

Level 3: Outpatient (4 weeks minimum)

Level 4: Continuing Care (4 weeks minimum)

The Adolescent Family Treatment Program consists of four levels of care.  During Level 1 , family members participate in educational sessions, group therapy sessions, and family counseling conjoint sessions.  During Level 2 , family members participate in group therapy sessions and family counseling conjoint sessions.  During Level 3 and Level 4 , family members participate in family counseling conjoint sessions.

Level 1: Intensive Outpatient (8 weeks minimum)

Includes weekly educational sessions and group therapy sessions. Family counseling conjoint sessions are scheduled on an individualized basis. Family members commit to attend Level 1 Treatment.

Level 2: Outpatient (4 weeks minimum)

Includes weekly group therapy sessions. Family counseling conjoint sessions are scheduled on an individualized basis. Family members commit to attend Level 2 Treatment.

Level 3 and 4: Outpatient and Continuing Care (8 weeks minimum)

Family counseling conjoint sessions are scheduled on an individualized basis.