Home      Login

Abstract: 

Determining interventions that reflect youth’s needs should be given careful consideration. Several issues are of concern. The interventions must be in line with both the family and youth’s priorities and their beliefs about what will work for them. Interventions that may seem likely to work for one family may be completely inappropriate for another. There may be tension between the adult’s focus and the youth’s focus on the causes and issues related to a problem area. Attempting to bring these two views together and to build mutual investment may be challenging. A youth will not invest in a plan that does not have meaning to him/her. Balancing individual and family- or community-based interventions is also an important consideration. This article reviews the ways in which youth are supported in understanding the value of empowerment principles and the ways in which these are demonstrated in the types of interventions that are offered. The range of interventions is then discussed, primarily from the viewpoint of meeting needs specifically manifested in the youth.

Keywords: Strength-based treatment; recovery orientation

Affiliations:  1: Community Mental Health Center, Inc..