Ettie Lee employs Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

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Contact:

Vicki Mastro
626/960-4861

vicki_m@ettielee.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ettie Lee Employs Marsha Linehan's Dialectical Behvior Therapy (DBT) for Treatment of Adolescent Boys

August 2011 Baldwin Park, CA - Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), has made the list in Time Magazine's Special Edition, Time 100 New Scientific Discoveries. In 2004, Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services adopted this evidenced-based treatment model for their work with adolescent boys with dual diagnoses who have high recidivism rates due to substance abuse.

Since that time, Ettie Lee's President and CEO, Clayton Downey, says "the data we collect internally truly justifies our investment in Linehan's DBT Treatment Model. We have seen an increase in successful outcomes, reduced use of illegal substances and runaways and other

negative behaviors." Downey also commented that staff members report that once the youth learn how to use the DBT techniques, their interactions with the staff improve. "Our use of DBT has made our working environments far more positive for both the youth and the staff," stated Downey, "and that positive environment is a safe place for youth to build trust and relationships which are crucial to their success."

A former client of Linehan's, Lily, describes DBT as "a Zen philosophy meets tough love,"(Time, 2008). Michelle Chiappone, Director of Mental Health at Ettie Lee, states "DBT provides the skills that effectively produce behavior change so that the youth and the families that we work with can be more satisfied with their lives. Our staff has seen it work and feel more successful in serving in serving our clients and the community."

For more than 60 years Ettie Lee has served the complex needs of at-risk youth with emotional and behavioral problems and their families in Southern California. When Miss Ettie Lee opened the first group home in 1950, she introduced the model of providing a family atmosphere. Although Ettie Lee has grown significantly since 1950, providing a family atmosphere has been so successful that they still follow that model in all of their nine group homes and 30 foster homes. Last year Ettie Lee served 335 unduplicated boys and girls and their families: 69% were Hispanic, 17% African-American, 11.5% Caucasian, 1.3% Asian/Pacific Islander, .4% American Indian, .8% other and over 97% were from low-income and/or disadvantaged families.

Ettie Lee's residential group homes serve older childrem - teenage boys (aged 13-18) - who are on probation. All of the group homes are located in residential areas and provide family-style residential treatment that focuses on the importance of education and being active in the community to develop the skills for success in life. Ettie Lee's therapeutic Foster Family Agency and Adoption Agency is location in Covina. More than 65 boys and girls are placed in the safe and loving homes of Ettie Lee foster parents who are trained and licensed.

Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services is a nonprofit child welfare agency serving the complex needs of at-risk youth who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Its mission is to assist troubled youth who are in need of guidance and support to develop values and skills that will facilitate their success in life. Ettie Lee complies with the highest standards of Community Care Licensing, Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services, and Los Angeles County Department of Probation. Ettie Lee is accredited by the California Alliance for Children & Families and the Council on Accreditation.