More SMART Staff

Earlier this spring, three YBGR staff completed the requirements to be certified as SMART Trainers, and upon being certified immediately conducted a 5-part series to train 17 additional YBGR staff as SMART clinicians.

SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation erapy) is a comprehensive treatment approach using a variety of treatment and therapy expertise including trauma-focused psychotherapy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, sensory integration, play therapy, attachment and family therapy, developmental psychology, and human development. Clinicians using SMART work with the child (and hopefully the caregiver) to nurture healing and growth.

anks to this latest series of trainings, made possible by a grant from the Offutt Family Foundation, SMART is now available to YBGR youth in Yellowstone County, Livingston, Lewistown, Dillon, the Flathead Valley, Missoula area, Harlem, and Deer Lodge.

YBGR Licensed Addiction Counselors

On average, half of all youth served by YBGR need Chemical Dependency Services (CDS), either for a diagnosis of addiction or for prevention services. YBGR has o ered CDS to youth in the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and in the middle and high schools in Yellowstone County for many years. In the last few years, CDS expanded to include Beaverhead, Park, and Fergus Counties and is now expanding again to include Flathead and Blaine Counties.

Youth in the PRTF are o ered individual and group therapy as well as a biweekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting held on campus. When youth are getting closer to discharge, they will attend AA meetings in the community so they can experience what they are like before attending on their own after being discharged. Youth can also self-refer to the program if they have concerns, even if they have never used.

Youth in the school setting also self-refer, and can be referred by friends, family, and school sta . The school programs focus mainly on prevention and can be a resource for youth who have questions about things they have heard or seen.

YBGR currently has six Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC) on sta and is hiring two more with the expansion of services to the new counties. YBGR would like to add more as these services are needed by Montana youth.

“I grew up with a supportive family who was able to help me, but not all my friends were so lucky. I went into the LAC program with the intention of going back to Harlem, MT once I had my license to help my community,” says LAC Vanessa Bell. “YBGR has been amazing in giving me the skills that I need and is helping me to make my dream come true. As an LAC for YBGR, I will be moving back to Harlem and providing CDS to a community that has a lack of these kinds of services for youth.”