Police officers and the courts recognize that parents of troubled teens need help. That`s where an organization such as Omni Youth Services, an outpatient youth and family counseling center, comes into play.
Teens arrested for shoplifting, vandalism, drugs, drinking or those with second arrests for burglary, arson or assault, are given the option to attend Omni programs or face fines or jail.
”It`s an incentive to come to Omni,” said Jay Meyer, clinical director. ”We try to get the kids in services that would help the youth and their family.”
Yearly, Omni helps about 5,000 residents from Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights, Wheeling and Mt. Prospect. Similar programs to help kids, such as The Bridge Youth and Family Services of Palatine Township, Spectrum Youth and Family Services of Schaumburg Township, and Barrington Youth Services for the Barrington and Carpentersville communities, are in place throughout the northwest suburbs.
In 1991, juvenile police officers in Wheeling sent 77 teens with delinquent or criminal offenses to Omni for help, according to Juvenile Officer Michael Kirby. ”Our main concern is to get the kids some help if we suspect an alcohol problem,” he said. ”The earlier the intervention, the more success you have.”
If a child is intoxicated or caught with drugs, a Wheeling ordinance allows police officers to direct the family to Omni. Also, the courts can refer teens to the program. The teen and his parents can then join a multi-family group called Directions. For eight weeks, the youth learns about substance abuse, and parents are educated about their child`s problem.
”We try to give parents enough information so that they can determine how serious a problem their child has,” said Meyer. ”… But parents can do all they`re supposed to do and their kids still can get into trouble,” he said.
When that happens, parents can turn to an organization like Omni. Said Juvenile Officer Kirby, ”(Omni`s) track record is very good, from my perspective.”
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For more information about the Omni programs, call 708-537-7357.
