The Auckland Bridging programme provides a flexible continuum of care for young people diagnosed with severe conduct disorder and who are in the custody of Child Youth and Family.
The Programme
The programme uses Multi-Systemic Therapy, Fostercare and Residential placements to address anti-social behaviour where less intensive interventions have failed.
Youth Horizons conducts an intensive assessment to determine the appropriate treatment response given the young person’s current behaviour, living situation, and family and CYF recommendations. This allows us to plan interventions to meet individual needs and reduce the amount of time that is spent in out-of-home placements.
The age range of young people in the Bridging Programme is between eleven and seventeen years of age.
Treatment Responses
• Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), a short-term (5 month) intensive, community-based approach aiming to help parents understand and help their child overcome behavioural problems. This includes improving school attendance and reducing contact with antisocial peers. MST clinicians work with families to address barriers to effective parenting such as domestic violence and substance use.
• Foster Care, based on the Treatment Foster care model, this service provides short-term (7 months), structured therapeutic care with specialised foster parents. The programme includes a structured points system and provides young people with clear limits, incentives for appropriate and consistent consequences and rewards, and a high level of supervision.
• Residential Care provides a high level of support and guidance in a highly structured environment for young people with a history of placement breakdown. This provides a safe, environment for staff to address inappropriate behaviours through the use of behaviour management techniques. The programme follows the same points system as the Foster Care programme.
For further information please contact Clare Babbage (Programme Manager) on 09 573 0954 ext 207 / 021 673 872 or clareb@youthorizons.org.nz