The Healthy Connections Program is specifically designed to provide treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities. We accept a wide range of referral issues, from working with individuals who have experienced abuse, to those with various acting out behaviors and those who are justice involved and eligible for Mental Health Diversion. We work with adults and juveniles who are referred from the Courts, Regional Centers, group homes, by caregivers, or who seek treatment on their own.
Our Treatment
Treatment is never “one size fits all” for individuals with intellectual or developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder, or other related diagnoses. Our intake process explores behavioral and cognitive challenges for each referral, and is meant to create individualized recommendations and goals for future treatment to address the needs and learning strategies most effective for each individual.
Treatment frequently focuses on:
Processing personal experiences of victimization
Building anger management and emotional regulation skills
Encouraging healthier sexual behaviors/outlets
Identifying appropriate coping mechanisms for responding to difficult emotions and impulses
Learning relationship and communication skills
Developing and maintaining reinforcement schedules
Reinforcing therapeutic techniques in the home environment
As each referral presents unique needs and each individual has different functioning areas that require attention, the treatment provider will determine which evidence-based interventions/approaches are most appropriate to address the reason for referral (e.g., trauma-informed care for an individual who has a personal history of victimization).
We work closely with our stakeholders to ensure treatment is adaptive and responsive to what is being seen not just by our clinical staff, but by parents and caregivers, medical staff, case managers, social workers, and probation officers.
Referrals for the program are accepted from Regional Centers or Court Services.
Intake Assessment
Prior to the start of the treatment, the clinician reviews available records, including previous testing, behavior reports, etc. Additionally, clinician consults with family members/residence staff, caseworkers, previous clinicians, and other relevant persons involved to gain a better understanding of an individual’s areas of strength and limitation. The clinician begins the process by conducting an intake evaluation, which may include a measure of sexual knowledge validated for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or measures of emotional well-being or trauma symptoms (as needed according to referral), as well as other tests to inform appropriate treatment recommendations and to individualize the program for the client. If the individual has a conviction requiring sex offender treatment, the risk assessments required by SARATSO (State Authorized Risk Assessment Tools for Sex Offenders) will be completed as well. The clinician identifies areas of impairment with a focus on cognitive, social-emotional, and behavior/mental health factors. An intake report is prepared and provided to the referring party and the court, if relevant.
Services
Clients attend individual sessions for 50 minutes, twice weekly. Services are offered at our offices in the Oakland area, downtown Sacramento, via telehealth, and at jails/juvenile halls (based on availability).
Our agency does not provide services in homes or residential facilities.
Evaluation
Progress is assessed via quizzes where included in curricula, achievement of treatment goals both client driven and referral based, and consultation with other providers on decrease in presenting behaviors. At the end of treatment, baseline testing is repeated as a measure for progress.
Reporting
Monthly reports are sent to the referral source (e.g. regional center, court, probation office,). The report provides the court with a description of the individual’s attendance, participation, progress, and any areas of concern. Status Alerts are provided to the court should a client engage in high risk behavior (e.g. attends session under the influence), violate attendance policies, etc.
Healthy Behaviors
The Healthy Behaviors Program (HB) is specifically designed to provide treatment for individuals with developmental disabilities who are engaging in sexually acting out behaviors/sex offenses, lack sex education, or would benefit from healthy relationship education. We receive referrals for education, victim services, pre-plea, mandated diversion programs, and probation. All clinicians are certified by the California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB).
Healthy Living
The Healthy Living Program (HL) is designed to address the needs of clientele who may not be suitable for our Healthy Behaviors (HB) program, or whose needs have outgrown the confines of HB, which focuses on sexual education and/or addresses sexual acting out behaviors in clients with IDD. The healthy living program is constructed to address a broader range of needs, including providing therapy or behavioral modification treatment to clients who have been exposed to trauma or abuse, are experiencing difficulty behaving appropriately after major life transitions (parental divorce, new living environments, new school environments, etc.), or who are experiencing difficulty with emotional regulation or impulse control that is not sexual in nature, such as difficulties with anger management, depression, or anxiety.
Contact Our Team
Email:
[email protected]
Mail:
15501 San Pablo Ave., #G317
Richmond, CA 94806
Phone:
1-888-524-5122
Offices located in Oakland & Sacramento. Telehealth available.
Services also available in Spanish!