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Child and Youth Mental Health Substance Abuse Services

A community based program whose mission is to enhance the lives of children, adolescents and their families. Child and Youth Services offers an array of services designed to assist children and adolescents who are experiencing emotional difficulties, behavior problems and/or substance abuse. The goal of most treatment plans is to help the child succeed while remaining in the family and in school.

Case Management - Case managers assist children and their families with accessing needed medical, psychiatric, social, educational, vocational and other support services essential to meeting basic needs. Case managers assist in service planning and coordination, supportive counseling and advocacy on the consumer's behalf.
After-school Therapeutic Day Treatment (ASTDT) - Provided to elementary aged children referred by the Virginia Beach City Public Schools and other sources. ASTDT includes mental health treatment and medication education in an after-school setting. The program also allows children the opportunity to practice and enhance their social skills. ASTDT serves children with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and is housed in strategically located Virginia Beach elementary schools. Transportation is provided from the child's home school to the treatment site, but parents are responsible for transportation home each evening. The goal is to help the child remain in the home and school without need for placement outside the home.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) - The IOP serves adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problems. This intensive treatment program meets ten hours per week over a minimum of 14 weeks. Parents and guardians attend a weekly family group. The program uses the evidence-based treatment modality Seven Challenges.
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) - MST is an evidence-based intensive home-based treatment modality designed to prevent youth placement outside the home. MST services are offered to families of youth who are referred to the program by the juvenile court system. Parents receive the support and guidance necessary for them to manage the behavior of their children, meaning the child would no longer need intensive services from the community. This program has maintained its license with MST, Inc. of South Carolina since 2001.
Outpatient Services - Licensed therapists and board certified psychiatrists are available to assist with mental health and substance abuse problems for children, adolescents, and their families. Each client's needs are assessed at intake and an individualized treatment plan is created with the client and parent(s) or guardian(s). Outpatient treatment may include individual, family or group therapy; multi-family therapy (several families attend together); individualized substance abuse services; and psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Therapists also provide case management functions when needed, such as making referrals to other programs, corresponding with other service providers and family members, and consulting with a multi-disciplinary clinical team at case staffings.
The Alliance for Youth (TAFY) - This is a therapeutic foster care program that is a joint effort between Child and Youth MHSA Services and the Foster Care Unit. It is open only to children that need therapeutic services, are currently in foster care with a the Adult and Family Services Division, and referred by the foster care team.
Virginia Independent Clinical Assessment Program (VICAP) - Individuals seeking Medicaid Children's Mental health services must have an independent assessment completed by a Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) approved mental health Professional. DMAS has designated local Community Services Boards (CSB) as the agency to conduct these evaluations.