Child and Adolescent Services

Youth mental health issues, when addressed early can set up youth for a healthy future. Our well-trained staff specialize in the unique needs of youth, helping them learn to thrive in childhood and as they transition to adulthood. At Oaklawn, we put a special emphasis on including the family, as we believe this is the best and most effective approach for long-term success. Our programs and services include:

Outpatient programs

Individual and family therapy: Our expert therapists provide evidence-based interventions that fit the needs of each client/family.

Group therapy: Our programs educate and empower youth and family members, while teaching skills such as communication, self-management and problem-solving that support their health and future success. Our outpatient teams take a Group First approach to treatment, meaning we begin the treatment experience for the majority of clients with time-limited group therapy. Our multi-family group provides a space for families to learn to work together and that they are not alone in dealing with mental health challenges. Groups include:

Growing Beyond
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
AFFIRM
Moral Reconation Therapy
And more

Care facilitation and skills training – Youth and families are connected with the resources, supports and services they need to succeed and the life skills they need to thrive.

Psychiatric services

Our psychiatric services team includes psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurses who oversee medical treatment. These services include:

Evaluations
Prescribing medications
Answering questions about medications, including side effects
Helping with medication refills and medication samples
Helping with the Patient Assistance Program for medications

Substance use treatment

The New Hope Adolescent program is a 28-week intensive substance use treatment program for adolescents with a moderate to severe substance use disorder. Participants learn about substance use, how it affects families and individuals and skills for recovery. New Hope is currently offered only on our Elkhart Campus.

Camp Mariposa

Oaklawn, in partnership with the Eluna, operates Camp Mariposa, a free camp that supports youth who are impacted by substance use in their families. Camp Mariposa South Bend offers a weekend overnight camp for youth 9-12 and a one-night camp for youth 13-17. For many campers, one or both parents struggle with a substance use disorder. Camp Mariposa gives young people the knowledge, tools and coping skills to prevent them from developing an addiction of their own and to help break the intergenerational cycle of addiction. Campers participate in traditional camp activities, as well as therapeutic and educational sessions. Camps are held every other month, and youth are encouraged to attend multiple times. For more information about Camp Mariposa, contact the camp coordinator at 574-349-1835 or campmariposa@oaklawn.org.

Insight (First Episode Psychosis)

Insight, a recovery-oriented program, serves individuals ages 14 and older who have experienced their first episode of psychosis within the past five years. Using a team‐based approach, our psychiatric providers, therapists and case managers work with clients to help them create and reach the recovery goals they feel are important to living a fulfilling life. Support includes individual, group and family therapy; medication management; acute care during crises, and supported education.

Transition to Independence Process (TIP)

TIP is an evidence-supported program that prepares and supports the transition of youth (ages 14-26) experiencing emotional or behavioral health issues as they develop independence and enter adult roles. Through a strengths-based approach, TIP provides a youth-driven model and works to engage youth through relationship development, person-centered planning and a focus on their future goals in connection to these five transition domains: Employment & Career, Educational Opportunities, Living Situation, Personal Effectiveness & Well-being and Community Life Functioning.

Wraparound services

Wraparound is a family-driven, strengths–based approach to services. Is It used most often when a youth is engaged in two or more child-serving systems. An Oaklawn wraparound facilitator organizes a team of people – from informal support systems such as family, friends or faith communities to formal systems such as community service providers – who help the family move toward their goals and achieve positive outcomes. In short, support is “wrapped around” the family.

There are two programs through which children and families can enter wraparound services: Children’s Mental Health Wraparound (CMHW), through the Indiana Division of Mental Health & Addiction, and the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), through the Indiana Department of Child Services. Each program has its own eligibility and exclusion criteria, and you can learn more by clicking the links above or by contacting us.

Entry into either program begins with contacting https://incmhwportal.fssa.in.gov/new-referral/

Systems of Care, hosted by Oaklawn

Each county has a system of care – the network of organizations and providers involved in children’s behavioral and mental health. Oaklawn is a proud partner in the systems of care in the counties we serve:

The SOURCE in Elkhart County and
SJC Cares in St. Joseph County

Sources of Strength

Oaklawn has partnered with school systems in both Elkhart and St. Joseph counties to implement Sources of Strength, an evidence-based suicide prevention program that teaches young people to tap into their natural strengths during tough times. To learn more about how to bring Sources of Strength to your school, contact us. To support Sources of Strength programming in local schools, make a gift to the Oaklawn Foundation.

Collaborative programs

Oaklawn partners with schools, community agencies and other organizations to provide behavioral health services in a variety of environments and contexts. Some of our partnerships include:

Schools

Oaklawn partners with school systems across Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties to provide mental health liaisons to assist in accessing mental health or other community services for youth.
Oaklawn also partners with South Bend Community Schools to provide STAND (Students Taking a New Direction), a grant funded evidence-based Student Assistance Program that targets prevention of drug and alcohol use.