Children’s Home-Wyoming Conference: Mastronardi Dante D

Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference runs eight locations, with their main office located in Binghamton, New York. They provide medical, spiritual, educational, and recreational care to children between the ages of 10 and 21. They offer treatment for substance use and for those with a family history of addiction.

Their substance abuse services operate from the Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC), found in Hillcrest. This is available to any child with a substance abuse issue, as well as children with family members who have experienced or are currently experiencing addiction. The program includes counseling for individuals, groups, and families.

The program includes many harm reduction strategies which take a preventative approach to substance use. They aim to ease underlying risk factors like emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues.

A major part of the problem is a practice called trauma recovery empowerment. This program is aimed at adolescents and young adults who have experienced abuse of any form or witnessed violence in their homes or communities. This evidence based practice works by teaching groups self soothing strategies and boundary setting.

In order to effectively support young people struggling with co-occurring disorders it also integrates evidence-based practices. A fundamental component of their methodology is the Trauma Recovery Empowerment Model, a psycho-educational curriculum designed for teen boys and girls who’ve been subjected to physical sexual or emotional abuse or have otherwise been exposed to violence.

The main model used in their treatment philosophy is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which supports family, group, and individual counseling. Employees are committed to helping teenagers learn how to apply these techniques in their everyday lives. To ensure that the therapeutic approach is diverse and adapted to the needs of each young person, a variety of group therapies such as grief and loss trauma and substance abuse prevention and treatment are provided.

Participants then process traumatic events in a safe, understanding environment. Finally, they learn skills for communicating, making decisions, regulating their emotions, and establishing healthy relationships.