Specialized Services
Youth Dynamics also offers a variety of specialty services for youth with specific needs. These services may be offered in a variety of formats including mentoring, therapy, therapeutic foster care, and/or therapeutic group home care.
Please click on a topic below to learn more:
Substance Abuse Treatment
Youth Dynamics recognizes substance abuse and drug/alcohol addiction is a major concern among at-risk youth. To meet the specific needs of the young people we serve, YDI offers a three-step process of assessment, education, and intervention.
Assessment: Youth Dynamics offers Substance Abuse Screening and Assessment when appropriate. Assessment tools used include the PADDI, SUDDS and LOCI.
Education: The assessment process helps YDI determine if a youth is in need of education. YDI's prevention and education program focused on key topics such as dealing with anger, trust, self-esteem, family dynamics, and positive, assertive communication.
Intervention: YDI offers intervention through an Outpatient Program (OP), the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and AfterCare. To ensure youth have timely access to care, continous enrollment is provided.
The OP/IOP is offered in Billings, MT. Youth Dynamics currently offers the only Montana substance abuse program that specifically serves youth who meet SED criteria. Kids with serious mental health issues need drug and alcohol treatment that meshes with their other therapeutic services, such as counseling or mentoring.
In many cases, youth from other communities stay in a Billings Therapeutic Group Home or a Therapeutic Foster Home for a short-term stay, allowing youth to focus entirely on their recovery and treatment plan in a safe, supportive place. YDI’s approach to substance abuse treatment involves an emphasis on changing behaviors, developing healthy activities and socializing to replace negative relationships. Teens and children participating in the program are provided with culturally appropriate tools, guest speakers, creative activities, and problem solving techniques to increase their success after treatment ends.
In addition, YDI offers a strong AfterCare Program to help young people in recovery maintain their sobriety. AfterCare begins immediately after the youth completes the Intensive Outpatient Program and may include group therapy and education. YDI also provides individual follow-up with youth once they have been out of Substance Abuse services for 30 days, to ensure that the youth has the maximum level of support in their recovery.
To learn more, please contact YDI’s Licensed Addictions Counselor, Amy Wilson, BS, LAC at amy.wilson@youthdynamics.org or 1-877-458-7022.
Equine-Assisted Activities Therapy
The Lewis & Clark Youth Home in Helena, MT offers intensive-level therapeutic group home care to co-ed youth ages 7-14. This program offers work and recreation opportunities with horses, as well as equine therapy and therapeutic animal interaction. The Lewis & Clark Therapeutic Youth Home offers an innovative, cutting-edge program that assists youth in building skills for managing the symptoms caused by trauma and other mental health issues. The horses are integrated into every aspect of life at the home. In addition to equine-assisted therapy, youth enjoy recreation time with the animals, as well as helping with their care and upkeep.
To learn more, please contact Teresa Turville, Lewis & Clark Therapeutic Youth Home Program Manager, at teresa.turville@youthdynamisc.org or 1-406-225-4600.
Services for Youth with Highly Sexualized Behaviors
For Families
Youth Dynamics realizes that youth who have survived abuse and trauma sometimes develop very negative coping skills and behaviors. While we hold all the children and teens we work with accountable for their actions, we also realize that we have a responsibility to help these kids and their families succeed. YDI believes that ALL children and teens have the potential to succeed and we do not “give up on kids.” We support families coming together to deal with these issues, heal and grow.
YDI recognizes that youth may develop a variety of symptoms in response to trauma they have experienced. Unhealthy sexual behaviors fall along a continuum with "reactive" sexual behaviors at one end, and "sexually offending" behaviors at the other. “Reactive” behaviors may include inappropriate self-touching or overly sexualized playacting. “Sexually offending” behaviors may include aggression in romantic relationships, forced or coercive sexual activity, and other disturbing patterns. Youth with these behavioral issues need intervention and treatment before problems get worse.
To address these serious — but frequently treatable — behaviors, YDI operates a campus-style facility in Boulder, MT called “Alternative Youth Adventures” (AYA). In a beautiful mountain setting, youth are able to focus on making significant changes in their lives and behaviors. The Boulder AYA location serves children 11-18 in four single-sex therapeutic youth homes (three for boys and one for girls), with an average stay of 9 months.Additionally, the program provides an on-site Day Treatment which meets the educational needs of the youth. While not all youth served at this facility exhibit highly sexualized behaviors, it is a place for pre-teens and teens to take responsibility for themselves, participate fully in their treatment, and make progress toward a healthier future for themselves and their families. This is the only program of its kind available IN MONTANA. Youth DO NOT need to leave the state to receive highly effective, evidence-based treatment for highly sexualized behaviors.
Kevin Wyse, MEd, LCPC, MSOTA is a well-known Montana therapist specializing in treating highly sexualized behaviors. Mr. Wyse is the Program Manager for the Day Treatment Program and provides individual and group counseling related to inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviors. He may be reached with questions or referrals at kwyse@youthdynamics.org or (406) 225-3176. Teresa Turville is the Program Manager for the Therapeutic Youth Homes on the campus and may be reached at teresa.turville@youthdynamics.org or 1-406-225-4600.
For Professionals (additional clinical and judicial information)
Youth Dynamics operates Alternative Youth Adventures, a Therapeutic Group Home and alternative education facility treating specific behavioral health issues with a treatment emphasis on highly sexualized behaviors. This facility has 24 beds for boys and girls between the ages of 11-18. This is the only program of its type in Montana. We can meet many of the treatment needs of several types of juveniles who have committed a variety of misdemeanor or felony offenses. Our program has worked with youth who have been convicted of everything from sexual offenses to partner family member assault, assault, drug and alcohol violations, forgery, theft, etc.
We have a specialized, cognitive/behavioral program for treating youth who have adjudicated for sexual crimes as well as other misdemeanor or felony offenses. This program is supervised by a clinical member of the Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association and is designed for both males and females. The youth in this program live in same sex, therapeutic group homes which are designed for their unique treatment and supervision needs. The treatment program focuses first on personal responsibility. Youth are encouraged to take responsibility and be accountable for their own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Secondly, youth are taught new skills through individual, family and group therapy and are reinforced in the milieu to implement those skills. The new skills focus on managing the symptoms of a mental health diagnosis and/or previous trauma, identifying appropriate thoughts and thought processes and, of course, demonstrating behaviors that assist the youth in developing appropriate, healthy relationships and contribute positively to society.
Should the Court deem treatment the appropriate direction for these youth, we would be excited to review each case and assist all interested parties in developing an appropriate treatment plan which meets the needs of the youth and ensures community safety. As mentioned earlier, this program was designed to keep youth in Montana while providing treatment. This allows the opportunity for youth to remain connected to his/her family through family therapy, family visitation and therapeutic home visits. It also allows the Court to monitor progress with the Juvenile Probation Officer being directly involved in treatment planning and the ability to visit the youth and treatment team on a regular basis.
Youth Dynamics has been providing treatment for kids and their families for nearly 30 years and this program is the product of these many years of experience. Our mission has always been to provide youth, their families and their communities with the absolute best solution to the problems he/she may be facing. Our vast knowledge base, variety of treatment options and well connected community resources allows us to provide the youth and the Court with solutions which are reasonable, affordable, and local.
If you would like more information about Youth Dynamics and Alternative Youth Adventures or would like to make a referral, please contact Kevin Wyse, MSOTA certified therapist and Day Treatment Program Manager kwyse@youthdynamics.org or Teresa Turville, Program Manager for the Therapeutic Youth Homes on the campus, may be reached at teresa.turville@youthdynamics.org or 1-406-225-4600.