Youth Services

Youth Programs Admission Criteria

The following criteria are evaluated when considering a youth for admission to residential treatment:

    1. Youth who have had their lives significantly affected by a substance misuse, on their part or on the part of their families or significant others.
    2. Youth whose lifestyles are such that they are regarded as having a living problem by their families, themselves, and/or their communities.
    3. Youth who have an ability to absorb and respond to program demands.
    4. Recognizing the population abusing substances are frequently over-medicated and psychiatrically complex, BHF allows youth on prescribed mood-altering or psychotropic substances to be admitted provided they meet one of the following conditions:
      1. A medical condition such as epilepsy is present.
      2. Individuals are under the care of a psychiatrist and meet all other admission criteria. Such cases would include those whose prescription modification is contraindicated due to mental health concerns. A complete psychiatric report, satisfactory in form and content to the Behavioural Health Foundation, must be submitted with the Application for Admission.
    5. Youth who do not have histories or present charges of sexual assault, arson or crimes against children.   Youth charged with or who have histories of all other criminal offences are eligible to apply for admission.
    6. Youth will be accepted on judicial interim release if they meet all other admission criteria.  If they leave the program prior to completion they will not be accepted in the future on judicial interim release, except under the discretion of the Executive Director.