SPECIAL NOTE: Federation of Families of South Carolina works closely with "Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams," serving on the state's Joint Council on Adolescents and delivering several trainings to project demonstration sites on "Family-Driven Care." To learn more about this organization, click here to read the December 2008 edition of the Federation of Families newsletter.
What is "Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams"?
"Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams" is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Governor, DAODAS, and other state agencies that either fund, license or provide adolescent substance abuse screening or treatment services. These agencies include the:
The project will seek to close gaps and eliminate barriers that exist within the adolescent treatment system.
Target Population
The project targets the statewide system of care for South Carolina adolescents (ages 12 to 17) who have a substance abuse disorder based on criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).
Statement of Need
The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 40% of South Carolina high school students had consumed alcohol within the past 30 days; 26% had smoked cigarettes within the past 30 days; 22% had used marijuana during the past 30 days; and 30% had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Substance abuse among adolescents continues to be associated with higher rates of accidents, suicides, violent behavior, high-risk sex and emotional problems.
"Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams" is designed to offer South Carolina a coordinated system of effective substance abuse treatment that is available to all youth who need it. There must be no wrong door for youth to enter substance abuse services in our state.
Program Goals
Implementation Process
DAODAS will work with the newly restructured Governor's Council on Substance Abuse Services to develop and implement a plan to coordinate substance abuse treatment services across the state. This council will consist of all relevant state agencies and private entities that provide substance abuse services to youth and their families. "Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams" presents a plan for infrastructure change that will seek to close gaps and eliminate barriers in existing systems.
Update
To view an update of the "Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams" project in PDF form, click here.
To view a PDF of the report on South Carolina's Child and Adolescent Policy Forum held August 30, 2007, click here.
*You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF.
Contact
For more information, contact project manager Susie Williams-Manning, M.A., NCAC II, at 803-896-1271; e-mail: swilliamsmanning@daodas.state.sc.us.