Avanti Center for Girls

Location:  10300 Flanders Street NE, Blaine, Minnesota 55449

Days/Hours:

• Office hours:  Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Residential setting provides services 24-hours per day, 7-days per week, 365 days per year.

Participants are: Females, ages 12 to 18, who exhibit emotional and behavioral problems and need shelter, evaluation or treatment programming.

Fees: Funding for participant placement is typically received through county social services.  Please contact the Avanti Center referral contacts below for specific program fees.

Referrals Contact: Julie Plowe

• Phone: 763-230-7470
• Email: jplowe@voamn.org

The Avanti Center for Girls provides a continuum of shelter, evaluation and treatment services for females ages 12-18 with emotional and behavioral problems.  We assist our residents in gaining the skills necessary to improve their quality of life, the lives of those around them, and to succeed as adults.   Treatment Program: The treatment unit at Avanti utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to provide our youth with the skills necessary to change their approach toward dealing with problems, to regulate and express their emotions in healthier ways and to make more responsible choices. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an empirically researched psychotherapeutic treatment model employing cognitive and behavioral principals.  DBT is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically designed to treat adolescents with patterns of emotional dysregulation. Shelter Program: Shelter programming provides a safe and supportive environment for youth in transition or crisis with a range of placement from 1-90 days. Evaluation Program: Our 42-day evaluation program assesses strengths/needs and assists children, families, community agencies, and courts in selecting appropriate services.  Referrals include youth who require additional intervention for successful living, but the type of intervention is uncertain and outpatient evaluation is not sufficient in making that determination.  Programming Components: A wide array of services complement work done on-site in program units to provide a truly comprehensive residential experience.  Participants of the Shelter and Evaluation Programs are also able to access many of these services as optional supplements to typical programming, if requested. On-site nursing staff Monday through Friday during business hours Individual, Group and Family Therapy Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Management Aftercare Services Work/Vocational Programming Spirituality, Diversity and Mentoring Programming Please call 763-230-7470 for more information, or to arrange a tour.

Treatment Program: Department of Human Services (DHS) licensed Severely Emotionally Disturbed (SED) Program For youth who exhibit serious emotional and behavioral problems Features highly individualized treatment programming using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) model Shelter Program: Females, ages 12-18 For youth in crisis or transition Typical placement can span from one (1) to 90 days Features a safe and supportive environment   Evaluation Program:  Females, ages 12-18 Six-week program (42-day stay) Medical screening Residential Behavior assessment Psychological assessment Rule 25 chemical dependency assessment (optional) Psychiatric assessment Developmental family history Discharge diagnosis Placement recommendations   Clinical Staff: Avanti’s clinical staff is composed of licensed, master’s degree level mental health professionals.  Additionally, they: Are assigned to the treatment and evaluation units Assure treatment units maintain a therapeutic environment Provide family and group therapy Furnish training to direct care Residential Counselors, who implement treatment plans, perform behavior management, run additional group sessions, etc. Monitor resident treatment plans during placement Provide aftercare services prior to and after discharge Individual, Group and Family Therapy: Individual and family therapy provided in-home and in several Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area office locations   Aftercare Services: Promotes integration into the community Aftercare group on site Individual follow-up for 6-months post discharge, including weekly contact and in-home visits   Work and Vocational Programming: Work Readiness Program on site Occupational Therapy services available on site Restitution and community service options Clinical staff provide intensive parent/caregiver support On site mental health services, including group and individual therapy