Bshs 401 - Journal Entry Three - Third Way Center Inc

Journal Entry Three

BSHS 401

Journal Entry Three

Third Way Center Inc is a mental health treatment in a residential setting for troubled teens. Their mission statement is "To offer truth and hope to high risk, mentally ill, disadvantaged and often homeless adolescents, and their families" (Third Way).

The founder Dr. Hildegard Messenbaugh a noted Denver psychiatrist and several private citizens opened a shelter for teenagers that were homeless. Since then Third Way has grown to five licensed residential child care treatment facilities, with intensive mental health diagnostics and assessments across the Denver Metro Area. Third Way Center provides state approved educational programs and teaches independent living skills. The quality philosophy is to experience healthy relationships, remain free from substance abuse, live independent of tax payer support, and maintain employment and law abiding life style.

Third Way Center requires a referral to the program to help determine if the client is a good fit. Admissions reviews the clients current situation, court reports, results of previous psychological testing, education information and all discharge reports from previous placements, to see if the client is a good fit into the program. Once the decision is made, the client meets with an admission professional to enroll the client. Most referrals are made through human services, mental services, corrections and private parties would need to apply differently.

Third Way Center helps troubled teens between the ages of 15-18 years old for at least 60 days or longer through truth and hope. Some of the teens are mothers or pregnant. The staff helps the clients to understand their issues and needs, and then they set a goal and give them hope to achieve their goals. This program is the only one of this kind in the Denver Metro Area and serves over 250 youth each year. Third Way Center Inc is a program that is very much needed to give teenagers that doesn't have family, have been kicked out or have gotten into trouble. I would refer clients to access this resource as it could save their life otherwise. When teens have skills to live, the chances of them being productive citizens are greater.

Bibliography

(n.d.). Retrieved 11 5, 2012, from Third Way Center Inc: http://www.thirdwaycenter.org/our-programs/