CHILD AND FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES*
The Child and Family Guidance Center provides mental health services to children and their families. Services are provided at four sites in the San Fernando Valley communities of Northridge and North Hills, and at one site in the Antelope Valley community of Palmdale. The Center also provides mental health services at school sites, in clients’ homes, and in collaboration with many social service agencies.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND ANTELOPE VALLEY OUTPATIENT SERVICES
Outpatient services are available in English and Spanish and include individual, family, and group therapy; psychiatric evaluation and medication management; rehabilitation and skill building; and case management services.
1. Individual, Family, and Group Therapy services are provided based on each individual child’s needs. The Center utilizes a variety of highly effective evidence-based practices (EBPs) in outpatient programs:
• Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
CPP is an intervention for parents and young children, birth-5 years of age, who have experienced one or more traumas. CPP focuses on supporting healthy child development and restoring a nurturing child-parent relationship when it has been disrupted by trauma such as child abuse or domestic violence.
• Crisis Oriented Recovery System (CORS)
CORS is a brief intervention (six sessions or less) for children/youth ages 3-18 and adults who have experienced a crisis within the last 30 days. The therapist assists the child/family in returning to their previous level of functioning. Once stabilized, the child/family may be assigned to another treatment program.
• Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
FFT is an intensive, short-term, in-home family treatment program for youth, ages 11-17 who are exhibiting severe defiant and/or aggressive behaviors. FFT focuses on reducing negativity and blame; increasing hope; improving positive communication; and addressing relational patterns within the family that contributes to the behavior.
• Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT is an early intervention for teens and adults who exhibit or are at risk for symptoms caused by past trauma such as anxiety and depression. CBT teaches skills to enable individuals to be aware of thoughts and emotions; identify how situations, thoughts, and behaviors influence emotions; and improve feelings by changing dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors.
• Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP)
MAP is designed for children/youth, age 3-18, who are exhibiting emotional and behavioral problems. MAP is not a specific approach to treatment but rather a model for treatment decision-making. Clinicians have access to the most current clinical protocols and measurement tools via an online database. While the MAP approach applies to a broad spectrum of problems, the Center targets anxiety, depression, and disruptive behaviors.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND ANTELOPE VALLEY OUTPATIENT SERVICES
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
PCIT is a hands-on treatment approach designed to help children with significant behavioral problems (i.e., tantrums, whining, not listening, anxiety, etc.). The program consists of having the parent and the child in a small room, the parent has a microphone in their ear, and the therapist is observing them from a two way mirror. The therapist coaches the parent on how to actively participate in, praise, and reflect the child’s play and ignore unwanted behavior. The goals of the program include enhancement of the parent/child bond; improvement of parenting skills; increased compliance with parental directives; and a decrease in behavioral problems.
• Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
Triple P is parenting education and support for families with children/youth age 1 to 16 years. Triple P is designed to reduce and prevent behavioral problems by focusing on the development of positive relationships, attitudes, skills, and conduct. Caregivers are offered tools and taught strategies to help them effectively manage and discipline misbehavior, practice self-care, and develop realistic expectations for their children and themselves.
• Seeking Safety (SS)
SS is designed for youth, age 13-18, and adults who are struggling with a history of trauma, exhibiting impulsive and high risk behaviors, and/or abusing substances. SS focuses on establishing safety and discontinuing substance abuse through, psycho-education, building positive coping skills, and providing needed linkages.
TF-CBT is intended for children, age 3-18, who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events. TF-CBT incorporates psycho-education, parenting, relaxation training, affect modulation, cognitive process of the trauma, writing of a trauma narrative, and enhancement of safety and social skills. The treatment includes individual parent and child sessions followed by conjoint parent-child sessions.
2. Caregiver/Adult Services
The Center offers time-limited individual and group therapy services utilizing evidence- based practices for parents and caregivers who are experiencing their own mental health challenges, including depression, relationship conflicts, and recovery from a recent major life stressor.
3. Community Resource Services (CRS)
CRS provides intensive in-home case management services through collaboration with the treatment team. Services entail an in-home assessment of the family’s strengths and needs; formulation of an individualized case management plan; linkage to community resources; and school advocacy. In addition, CRS offers a specialized case management program for high school age youth focused on transition planning; linkage to vocational training, college, and employment resources; and school placement assistance and advocacy.
4. Crisis Program
The crisis program provides short-term, intensive treatment to stabilize a crisis situation and to improve the client’s ability to benefit from outpatient treatment services. Crisis situations include suicidal and/or homicidal behavior, recent psychiatric hospitalization, witnessing a traumatic event, experiencing an acute trauma (e.g., rape, death of a loved one, etc.), severe PTSD symptoms, and other situations requiring immediate services.
5. Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Services
Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Services are a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to care management and coordination. These services aim to address the physical, behavioral health, and social service needs of vulnerable children and families. Through ECM, care is provided in a holistic manner, ensuring that all aspects of a person’s well-being are considered and managed effectively. This approach helps to ensure that vulnerable populations receive the support and resources they need to improve their overall health and quality of life.
Resilient Together
6. Full Service Partnership (FSP)
The FSP Program provides intensive in-home treatment services to high risk children/youth, ages 1-22, and their families, in the San Fernando Valley and children/youth, age 1-22, in the Antelope Valley. FSP targets children and youth who exhibit high risk behaviors and may be at risk of placement in a higher level of care. FSP uses a team approach and includes individual/family in-home therapy, intensive case management, and psychiatric support services, as needed.
7. Mental Health Specialty Services (MHSS)
Mental Health Specialty Services (MHSS) is designed for children and youth who require coaching and support for the management of disruptive behaviors. MHSS provides skill building to children and youth and their families by educating and coaching clients to utilize behavioral interventions aimed at reducing challenging and disruptive behaviors. MHSS also offers parent support with maladaptive behaviors. MHSS can be provided within the home and school settings, depending on the behavioral need.
8. Outreach Services
Outreach services engage and educate community members through specialized mental health presentations including: suicide prevention trainings (safeTALK and ASIST), Youth Mental Health First Aid, health insurance enrollment and awareness events.
9. Parent Library
Parent Libraries are conveniently located near the Center’s waiting room for parents to learn more about their child’s emotional and developmental needs; identify tools to assist their child; and to locate needed resources for the family. Parent partners are available to help parents find videos and materials that address their mental health challenges. Parents are able to watch videos, read educational books and pamphlets, and/or relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.
10. Psychiatric Services
Child psychiatrists provide psychiatric services, including evaluation and medication monitoring.
11. School-Based Mental Health Services
The Center provides school-based mental health services on the campus of multiple schools throughout the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys. The Center offers individual, group, and family therapy as well as classroom consultation at elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS
1. California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs Program)
The CalWORKs program provides mental health services to adults receiving state-funded financial assistance. Services are focused on removing mental health barriers to help individuals return to employment or school.
2. Children’s Health: Outreach, Enrollment, Utilization, and Retention Services (CHOEUR)
The CHOEUR program educates and assists eligible families with enrollment, utilization, and retention of low cost health coverage for their families.
3. Community Family Center (CFC)
CFC located in Park Parthenia Apartment complex in Northridge, offers a wide variety of bilingual (Spanish/English) supportive services, including parent education; health coverage enrollment, utilization, and retention; and CalFresh food application assistance.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS
4. Early Intervention and Diversion Program (EIDP)
EIDP targets at-risk youth, ages 14-18 years who are first-time or lower level juvenile offenders and gives them the opportunity to complete diversion instead of entering the juvenile justice system. All youth are referred by probation and receive a full mental health assessment. A treatment plan is developed with the therapist, youth, family and probation officer and all work together in a multi-disciplinary team to support the youth in completing the terms of probation. Services may last up to six months.
5. Family Preservation Program
The Family Preservation program offers short-term mental health services designed to assist families involved with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The Center works closely with the Family Preservation lead agency to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. In-home counselors teach parenting skills and help strengthen family functioning. Mental health services are offered to children as needed.
6. In-Home Behavioral Intervention Team (IBIT)
IBIT provides in-home parenting instruction to parents of children, age 3-5, who exhibit emotional and/or behavioral challenges. IBIT focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship and increasing parents’ understanding and management of their children’s behaviors. IBIT also builds school readiness skills to better prepare children for entry into preschool and kindergarten.
7. Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Team (MAT)
MAT is designed to ensure immediate and comprehensive strength-based assessments of children entering the foster care system. MAT assessments focus on identifying child and family needs, providing access to medical and mental health services, and facilitating appropriate team decisions.
8. Northpoint School
Northpoint is a non-public school that serves students, age 14-22, displaying significant emotional and/or behavioral problems whose needs cannot be met in a public school setting. Northpoint combines academic instruction and a broad spectrum of specialized services, including: DIS counseling, extracurricular activities, and transition planning. Through a team approach, the educational staff develops a comprehensive individualized program for each student. Staff includes the educational director, special education teachers, psychologist/social workers. Northpoint integrates a rewards-based behavior modification system with cognitive therapy. Emphasis is placed on clear expectations, successful experiences, positive rewards, and immediate feedback in an effort to help students realize their academic and social potential.
9. North Hills Wellness Center
The North Hills Wellness Center, located on the campus of Monroe High School, is a partnership between the Center and Valley Community Healthcare, a primary healthcare provider. The Center offers individual, family, and group counseling; psychiatric assessment and medication support; and case management to children and families who attend Monroe High School and/or reside in the surrounding community.
10. Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS)
TBS is an intensive, structured, and time-limited behavioral intervention for children, ages 1-21, who are at high risk of removal from their home due to the severity of their behavioral problems. TBS is designed to teach children, youth, and families new methods of managing challenging behaviors. Families learn skills and strategies to increase positive behaviors and reduce negative/high risk behaviors. TBS is an auxiliary service and always works in collaboration with the child’s ongoing mental health provider(s), school, and other community partners. TBS can be provided in the home, school, residential placement, group home, or community setting, depending on the needs of the child.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS
11. Trainings
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
ASIST is an intensive, interactive two day workshop to help individuals learn how to intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide and provide safety for now. ASIST is designed for caregivers and other community members (teachers, clergy, law enforcement) who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid | Teen Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Mental Health First Aid is a live training course, which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources.
• safeTALK
safeTALK is a three hour training that prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety
• Suicide to Hope
Suicide to Hope is a one-day workshop for clinicians and other professional caregivers who work with persons recently at risk of and currently safe from suicide. The focus is on recovery and growth. This training is designed for mental health professionals and caregivers. Participants are strongly encouraged to have experience in some type of suicide first aid training (ASIST, RRSR) as it makes the workshop more meaningful.
12. Trauma-Informed Services
The Center’s specialized programs address a range of childhood traumas including: physical abuse, negelect, sexual abuse and exposure to domestic violence.
ANTELOPE
1. Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART)
ART is a structured, skill-building group therapy approach for children/youth, ages 9-17 who exhibit aggressive and defiant behavior. The ART curriculum consists of three components: skill-streaming (acquisition of pro-social skills), anger control, and moral reasoning.
2. Healthy Families America ® (HFA)
HFA is a nationally recognized long-term, home visitation program for at-risk parents with newborn children. The HFA program goals are to support healthy infant development, promote strong infant-parent bonding, and prevent substance abuse.
3. Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)
MST is an intensive, short-term treatment program for youth, age 12 – 17, who are on probation and exhibit serious antisocial behaviors (aggression, theft, and truancy) and/or substance abuse. MST services are provided in the home and community. MST therapists carry a caseload of 4-6 families and are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. They typically have multiple face-to-face contacts with the family during each week of treatment and maintain contact with each youth’s probation officer and school.
4. Specialized Foster Care
The Specialized Foster Care program offers enhanced outpatient mental health treatment services for children in foster care. Services are provided in the field and office.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORIES
The Child and Family Guidance Center provides a wide variety of community resource directories in English and Spanish to help families with locating social services within their community. All listings are free or low cost services and are located in the San Fernando Valley. You can view and download each directory on our website at: www. childguidance.org/resources
• Child Care
• COVID-19
• Domestic Violence
• Emergency
• Food and Clothing
• Foster Youth
• Housing
• Information and Referral
• LGBT Youth
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
• Parent Education
• Services for Children with Special Needs
• Summer Camps and Recreational
• Transportation
• Vocational
• Volunteer Opportunities for Adults
• Volunteer Opportunities for Youth
• Youth Resource
Degrees
Associate in Arts
Associate in Science
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Qualified, Licensed and Credentialed Staff
Master of Business Administration
Medical Degree
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Registered Nurse
Licenses
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed Psychiatrist
Licensed Psychologist
Credentials
Teaching Credentials
Serving Los Angeles County’s San Fernando & Antelope Valleys Since 1962
Our offices are located in:
Northridge | North Hills | Palmdale
We serve the San Fernando Valley Communities of:
Arleta Lakeview Terrace San Fernando Valley Village
