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Adult Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Treatment
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 notable denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.

The Dilworth Center believes that involvement and support of family members is an essential component of recovery. The Dilworth Kids Program for Children offers the younger children and siblings of our patients the benefit of the disease education and age-appropriate group therapy.

Our goal is to provide a curriculum that gives children ages 7-12 an understanding of chemical dependency as a disease, its influence on the family environment, and that living with a chemically dependent person is something that children can cope with in a healthy, productive manner.

The Dilworth Kids Program for Children is a three-week program in conjunction with other regularly scheduled treatment services. Each session is divided by a break at which time the Dilworth Center provides snacks and drinks. Dilworth Kids is comprised of the following age-appropriate curriculum:

Week 1	“All About Me” and Good/Bad Habits – This session is designed to be a “groundbreaking” group. “Interviews” with each other and group introductions are non-threatening methods used to enable the counselor and group members to know each other on a more personal level. During this session, the counselor will facilitate a discussion on good and bad habits and how sometimes bad habits can turn into big problems. Age-Appropriate Chemical Dependency Education – Through the use of videos and art therapy, this session will attempt to educate the group members on chemical dependency as a disease and its implications for other family members.
Week 2	Feelings and Communication of Feelings – This session is designed to educate the group members on the many feelings associated with being a member of a chemically dependent family. The purpose of this session is also to assure the group members of the importance of communicating these feelings with a parent or another trusted adult. Anger Management – The purpose of this session is to equip the group members with alternative ways of expressing the anger that is often felt by children in a chemically dependent family. By the end of the session, we hope the group members will understand that anger is a normal emotion, but needs to be expressed in ways that are not destructive.
Week 3	Safety – This session is designed to educate group members on how to be safe in any situation that may arise from being with anyone that is under the influence of a mood-altering substance. Self-Esteem and Completion Process – The purpose of this session is to point out the attributes of each group member by the other group members with the intention of assuring the children that they are all unique and special. The group members will also receive a certificate of completion of the program as well as a silver aluminum coin as a symbol of completion.

Please contact the Dilworth Center for registration and additional information.