News: Colleen Cormany Presents an Innovative Treatment Program for Adolescents Afflicted with Substance Use & Mental Health Disorders in Nation’s Capital
Child Guidance & Family Solutions’ Colleen Cormany presented at the Joint Meeting on Adolescent Treatment Effectiveness (JMATE) in Washington, D.C.
Washington, DC - 06-04-2007 - A recent study from the University of Temple suggests that teens’ brains are “wired” to be susceptible to risky behavior, specifically substance abuse. This creates another hurdle, next to adolescents distressed from both substance use and mental health disorders, for Colleen Cormany. Cormany works in the Co-Occurring Treatment (COD) program at behavioral health provider, Child Guidance & Family Solutions. She participated on a panel at the Joint Meeting on Adolescent Treatment Effectiveness (JMATE) on April 25-27 in Washington, D.C. for her work with the Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT) program for adolescents who suffer from both mental health and substance use disorders called Co-Occurring Disorder (COD).
The theme of the 2007 JMATE was Joining with Families, Youth, and Communities To Improve Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment and Recovery, an inventive subject that resonated with Cormany. The ICT treatment program Cormany presented, was considered innovative for the behavioral healthcare community but representative of the Agency, whose mission is to connect people with needed resources and cooperate with community agencies and schools, something oftentimes considered challenging in the current state of behavioral healthcare. “After our presentation there was much excitement surrounding ICT,” said Cormany. “Many wondered which therapy we used to generate such success. However, ICT uses multiple therapies and is very specialized. All ICT clinicians are Licensed Professional Counselors with specialized training in addictions, which allows for seamless treatment of COD by an ICT team that works congruently with the courts, schools and probation officers.”
JMATE’s main function is to provide a forum for a wide range of partners to come together to discuss the latest advances in adolescent drug treatment, with a particular emphasis on the unique perspectives of youth and their families. The conference promotes discussion among researchers, treatment providers, families, youth, community leaders, and policy makers about how clinical practices can be enhanced and how different constituencies can contribute to these initiatives.
The Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment program Cormany presented is used for adolescents and their families who meet specific qualifications on an intensive, short-term basis. ICT seeks to reduce risk of harm, stabilize crises and develop a safety plan, which result in the eventual stabilization of the COD. ICT is a home based model which provides one counselor for individual and family counseling along with supportive case management services for their clients. The ICT model was developed by Helen Cleminshaw, Ph.D., University of Akron and Rick Shepler, Ph.D. of the Center for Innovative Practices, in partnership with Child Guidance & Family Solutions and supported by The Ohio Department of Mental Health and The Department of Youth Services. It is being researched for its effectiveness in treating adolescent COD.
Child Guidance & Family Solutions has remained Summit County’s leading provider of behavioral and mental healthcare to adults, children and families for close to 70 years. The Agency provides treatment and prevention services to over 4,000 children and 1,000 adults yearly and employs 150 professionals and support staff. Their counselors and case managers are also on-site in numerous area school districts. For more information please call (330) 762-0591 or visit www.cgfs.org.
Media Contact
Kim Skerl
Administrative Assistant
Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Central Office
312 Locust Street
Akron, Ohio 44302
Phone: (330) 762-4559
