Adolescent Substance Use Services

Determining Eligibility

Who Does this Partnership Serve?

• Youth aged 13-17 years old (special considerations for 12)
• Meet criteria for Substance Use Diagnosis and ASAM level of care criteria
• Arlington County Resident
• Medicaid health insurance or uninsured

Eligibility Criteria

• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) – Patient Placement Criteria
• Based on a full biopsychosocial assessment in 6 life areas
  • Acute intoxication and withdrawal potential
  • Medical
  • Cognitive/Behavioral/MH
  • Readiness to Change
  • Continued Use Potential
  • Living Environment
• Recommendations from clinical team are considered to include:
  • NatCap Staff
  • Patient
  • Patient Family
  • Other care providers (CSB, School, Probation, Social Services etc.)
• NatCap has final admission decision authority

Intensive Outpatient Program

IOP patients typically participate three times a week for 2 hours each day, for about 6-8 weeks. Program hours do not interfere with school, and snacks are provided.

• Age 13-17 (special considerations for 12)
• No current suicidal or homicidal ideation or auditory/visual hallucinations
• IQ is at least low average (80-89)
• Can manage appropriately in a group setting
• General guidelines
  • Overdose potential relatively low and/or patient willing to be placed on medication assistance treatment
  • Non-violent behavior
  • Does not have to think they have a problem or commit to lifelong sobriety, but we require abstinence while in the program

Oupatient Services

OP provides continuing care as patients step down from more intensive counseling. Patients typically begin by attending an average of two times/week for about 2 months, and then may reduce attendance to once a week for a month.

• Age 13-17
• Generally, this is a step down from Intensive Outpatient
• There is commitment to recovery
• Can tailor groups to specific populations/needs. For example:
  • Discovery group
  • Gender group
  • THC group  

Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT)

In conjunction with our other outpatient services, we offer medication assisted treatment for alcohol, opioids or other substances as indicated. 

Family and Community Supports

Concerned Persons Conversations

The Concerned Persons Conversations Program is a weekly educational and support session, facilitated by NatCap Director of Clinical Operations George Knoerlein and Clinical Director Pattie Schneeman. The educational event and Q&A is held every Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m.

This program offers up-to-date information about:

• Foundations of substance use disorder
• The recovery process
• Other topics relating to the disease and treatment

NatCap Speakers Bureau

Our Clinicians work with local community-based organizations, schools, and businesses to educate people on the disease of addiction as well as additional topics the organization may be interested in learning further about and educating their associates. 

Once youth are accepted into NatCap’s Program

• The Children's Behavioral Health liaison and identified NatCap staff will communicate and collaborate on each youth’s areas of strengths, progress, opportunities for growth, discharge, and next steps after NatCap.
• The DHS liaison will be the single point of contact for the NatCap staff and will be the link to any other providers, case managers, etc.
• The DHS liaison will attend NatCap multidisciplinary meetings as scheduled and will invite the youth's team and attend treatment team meetings.
• NatCap will provide the DHS Liaison and team with a monthly report.