As part of National Recovery Month in September, we are spotlighting the missions and roles of our varied programming, as a full continuum of accessible treatment options is crucial for truly making recovery possible for all.
Located in a family-style home in Methuen, Mass., Spectrum’s Bright Futures Program is a short-term substance use disorder treatment program for adolescent males referred by the court or committed to the Department of Youth Services (DYS). Bright Futures functions as a therapeutic community that uses several treatment approaches, including trauma-informed care, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family support and recovery-based interventions for substance use disorder treatment.
The goal of the program is to reduce the risk of relapse while teaching pro-social skills that help clients maintain a productive lifestyle. The client is tasked with working toward their own personal goals as well as achieving the overall goals of the program. The staff strive to help clients improve their behavior and develop more positive interactional styles while becoming successful members of their communities.
Upon admission, clients undergo a comprehensive intake assessment which is used to formulate an individualized treatment plan. Following intake, clients begin a two-week orientation phase, at a minimum, where they learn program expectations and begin establishing relationships with staff members, clinicians, teachers, and peers. After successfully completing this phase, clients move on to their treatment (action) phase, where they actively participate in clinical groups and practice pro-social behaviors, while working through elements of their treatment plan with the treatment team.
Upon successful completion of the treatment phase, clients enter the transition phase, where they are expected to maintain their responsibilities and comply with program expectations. Clients in the transition phase work with clinicians to explore issues that may arise as they prepare for their transition back into the community. The client, clinician, and family work together to ensure treatment support and relapse prevention plans are in place in the community once the client’s time in the program has been completed. Finally, clients enter and complete the role model phase, where they actively take part in community meetings, supply positive contributions to all groups and activities, and mentor youth that are new to the program.
Bright Futures has been a member of the Methuen community since 1994. Clients, clinicians, and staff prioritize giving back to their community through acts of service, such as cleaning local parks, to help all community members.
Addiction remains an epidemic, both locally and nationally, and increasing access to treatment is essential to combatting it. Bright Futures is currently the only DYS program in the state that focuses on substance use treatment, serving clients from across the state. The partnerships that enable Spectrum’s adolescent programming have been crucial in our mission to provide the highest quality of services to individuals seeking treatment by delivering widely accessible, evidence-based treatment and mental health services to all who need it.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction or a substance use disorder, call Spectrum Health Systems today at 1-877-MyRehab.
