Adolescent Services

Use of mood-altering chemicals during adolescence can have a profound effect on normal development. The young brain is still fully developing and is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and/or other drugs. It is this physiologic vulnerability that causes the adolescent brain to become addicted much faster than the adult brain does.

Drug use and abuse can also have serious effects upon normal development inevitably intensifying problems of adolescence and delaying the development of important coping skills. Because this is such an important developmental phase, treatment services must address all of the biopsychosocial needs of the adolescent and be designed to treat both the substance use disorder and the interrupted developmental process simultaneously. To accomplish this, the Foundation has developed a continuum of treatment services for youth ages 13-18.

Adolescent Services Treatment Modalities

• Biopsychosocial Assessment
  Treatment planning begins with a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation that includes psychological testing and a psychiatric evaluation if indicated by a board certified adolescent psychiatrist.
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
  This cognitive-behavioral-based outpatient group modality is specially designed for adolescents who needs to take a close look at their substance use. Our objective is to get them ready to address their harmful relationship to substances. This modality has been developed by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, a division of SAMSHA and Foundation staff are specially certified to provide it.
• Adolescent Day Treatment
  The Adolescent Day Treatment Program is provided at our New Choices facility five days a week beginning at the noon hour. Students are picked up by our van driver and brought to New Choices for lunch and an afternoon of therapy. Day treatment kids engage in individual and group therapy. Other modalities include the Youth Stewards Program where they begin to learn to give back to the community. Other activities include the Animal Enounters Program where patients assist in caring for homeless and abandoned animals. The family program each week involves parents and kids in educational and therapeutic modalities designed to strengthen bonds, and support parents in adopting zero-tolerance strategies for drug use in their child.
• Inpatient/Residential Treatment
  Adolescent females are served in the Foundation’s Inpatient program at the main facility while males ages 13-17 are served at our New Choices facility. This level of care is provided when addiction is severe or there are insufficient supports in the home or community environment and the child is deemed unlikely to respond effectively to outpatient modalities.
• Aftercare/Continuing Care
  Each patient attends a discharge planning session that also involves the parents during family week and again at the conclusion of the youth’s stay. These sessions are designed to address the continuing care needs of the patient in their home community. Each youth will leave with a discharge plan and appointments
• Relapse Prevention
  The weekly outpatient group involves adolescents in active decision-making and training to resist peer pressure to use mood-altering substances once they are back in the real world.
• Early Intervention and Evaluation
  Rimrock Foundation provides a fulltime staff member at the Truancy Center, Lincoln Center in Billings. Youth who violate school rules around alcohol or drug use are referred to the Truancy Center and may receive an assessment free of charge by the Foundation staff. Some school deans will refer adolescents at parental request to the Center for this assessment as well.
• School-Based Services
  Rimrock Foundation provides a full-time counselor to Billings Senior High School for the purpose of assisting students who may be returning from treatment. Services are available for students who need early intervention or motivational enhancement therapy, and students who need a peer-based, non-substance-using support system. These services are free to all youth at that school.
• Financial Assistance
  Montana provides free treatment for adolescents and their families who may be up to 50% of the federal poverty level. All of Rimrock Foundation’s treatment continuum is available for these young patients. The Foundation will provide an assessment to all adolescents regardless of ability to pay. We believe any child who needs evaluation represents a prevention opportunity we simply do not want to pass up. Please do not let financial concerns preclude your decision to have a child evaluated.

To make a referral or admissions assistance please call…
Coralee Goni, Adolescent Services Supervisor or
Jamie Hixson, Admissions Supervisor
1-800-227-3953 or 406-248-3175