The Basics
San Juan County Adolescent Residential Treatment Center is a psychiatric residential treatment facility located in Farmington, New Mexico that’s run by Presbyterian Medical Services (PMS). PMS is a non-profit corporation that was formed in 1969 with the mission of providing health care, education and human services to under-served communities in New Mexico. San Juan County was created to treat boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 who suffer from emotional problems and behavior disorders, which are usually co-occurring with substance abuse.
San Juan County is the only residential facility in the Four Corners region that provides adolescents with a live-in treatment program for mental health and substance abuse. Students must have tried and failed at less restrictive forms of care and be referred to the program from other agencies like the courts, probation officers, psychiatric hospitals or child protective services.
Accommodations and Food
While most residents of San Juan County are ordered to be there by an outside authority, they are still considered voluntary residents and are never under lock and key. San Juan County doesn’t feel like a prison, but rather a temporary home for student-aged children seeking treatment from a whole host of problems, especially substance abuse and behavioral issues.
Boasting a total of 12 rooms, San Juan County usually provides students with their own quarters. Boys and girls reside on opposite sides of the building, each with a communal bathroom and common room. The rest of the facility is shared by both genders and includes a community room, dining room, classrooms and outdoor spaces that include basketball and volleyball courts as well as a garden. No electronics or phones are allowed on the premises, but there is a TV in the common room which is used only for special movie nights on weekends.
San Juan County is a stand-alone building, but it’s on the same property as the court house and probation offices. Juvenile services provide all meals, most of which are homemade. Traditional favorite dishes like enchiladas are a regular occurrence.
Treatment and Staff
San Juan County uses evidence-based treatments during individual therapy (which they attend twice a week), group therapy (five times a week) and weekly family therapy. Dual diagnosis support is also offered. While most students are local, a few usually come from far corners of the state, in which case family therapy is done over Skype so loved ones can stay involved in their children’s care.
Most students have already sobered up at other agencies by the time they reach San Juan County, so detox is not offered. With a staff-to-student ratio of one-to-five, San Juan County offers a very intimate environment with a highly-qualified staff which includes psychiatrists to help with medication management, two clinical directors and several licensed counselors.
A typical day at San Juan County consists of school in the morning, therapy after lunch, outings into the community or free time in the afternoon and three meals served in between.
Extras
When there’s an opportunity to participate in a community activity like Thanksgiving dinner or a Renaissance Fair, the San Juan County staff take students on a group outing. During the summer months they also go on hikes in nearby wilderness areas or to swimming pools. Some students volunteer at community organizations, such as dog walking at a nearby animal shelter.
There are no short-term students here, and everyone usually stays between 90 and 120 days. Before being released back into the community, a detailed aftercare program is laid out for each student. Staff members make referrals to services in their communities, including individual and group therapy, and they even set up appointments before discharge. Multi-systemic therapy (MST) is also used to help with family dynamics and to hopefully ease students’ transitions back home.
In Summary
San Juan County provides high-quality substance abuse and mental health treatment from experienced, certified staff in a stable environment for some of New Mexico’s most vulnerable youth. For teens who have hit a wall and can’t steer themselves off a self-destructive path, San Juan County offers effective, evidence-based treatment, help with family issues, a solid education, numerous social services, nutritious meals, private bedrooms, a supportive staff and an aftercare program that sets residents up for success outside of treatment. San Juan County also tries to help these youth have fun and enjoy being kids again.
San Juan County accepts Medicaid, some private insurances and a sliding scale self-payment option for those with limited financial means. But if a student hasn’t been granted their funding yet, San Juan County won’t turn them away.
San Juan County Adolescent Residential Treatment Program
851 Andrea Dr
Building E Ste 4
Farmington, NM 87401
San Juan County Adolescent Residential Treatment Program Costs: Accepts Medicaid and most private insurances and also has a sliding scale. Reach San Juan County Adolescent Residential Treatment Program by phone at (505) 324-5855. Find them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
