When they turn 18

[27julie]

I'm trying to locate a treatment center for my son who turns 18 this month. He is in detention now and needs cognitive behavioral therapy. They want to offer a the Electronic ankle monitor but I have not been able to locate any services to help him. He is very immature, so putting him in an adult mental health facility is not recommended. We live in Charlottesville VA but willing to travel. Any suggestions?

[iBusyBrain]

Each state has a social and health services agency, but the name can vary a little from state-to-state. Contact you state's social and health agency and speak with a social worker about state supports for qualify individuals for mental health services, and intellectual disabled persons. There also my be county services as well.

[27julie in reply to iBusyBrain]

Thanks, tried that. Family services doesn't want to waste their time cause they have to start over when he turns 18. Adult services can't help til he turns 18. So frustrating.

[iBusyBrain in reply to 27julie]

That doesn't sound right. There are strict eligibility criteria for these services which are most often federally funded and required to adhere to federal laws. I am pretty certain that "wasting their time" is not part of eligibility criteria. Perhaps, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services could get you some assistance with whom to get more clarification from the state social workers you have spoken with?

[27julie in reply to iBusyBrain]

Will try, I live in Virginia. There is a reasons it's ranked 47th for mental health.

[iBusyBrain in reply to 27julie]

Precisely!

[HadEnuf in reply to iBusyBrain]

Those Federal laws, unfortunately, are part of why being close to the 18th birthday is a “magic barrier”: the resulting rules-orientation effectively puts patients like the OP's son in the land of mission statements of the form, “We don't ... That's not our job.”

[lkrportland]

Do a google search for a dual-diagnosis center. There is an excellent one in Seattle, WA but that is a very long distance for you. Perhaps in Atlanta GA? Or Dallas TX? Minneapolis has a strong mental health/ addiction recovery network and services. Try there first.