What issues are local communities grappling with? Recent trends show that alcohol and drug-related abuse among youth remains high. School truancy is escalating. Phone misuse due to sexting is increasing due to social media and the use of electronics at a younger age. Recognizing these are family and societal issues, Waterford Youth Assistance (WYA) is here to offer support and guidance to help Waterford youth and families become successful.
Participation in WYA casework services are voluntary and confidential. Parental permission is required for us to work with your child.
Client Referral Services
We offer preventative and diversion client referral services. Referrals to WYA may come from parents, school administrators, police, or the Oakland County Prosecutors Office. WYA can provide preventative short-term counseling to children who may be having difficulty adjusting to major life changes, such as a recent move, divorce, passing of a loved one/pet, and/or social difficulties.
Diversion client services are available for clients who are referred by local law agencies. We can assist with police referrals for the following issues: alcohol possession, vaping/drug-related possession, assault and battery, home truancy, home incorrigibility, larceny, malicious destruction of property M.D.O.P (vandalism), municipal ordinance, violation (curfew), retail and credit card fraud, and phone misuse/sexting.
Assessments: Upon receiving a referral, the Youth Assistance Caseworker will initially meet with the youth and their families to explore the issues responsible for the referral. The caseworker may consult school personnel, review records, or talk with other involved professionals. The assessment is crucial to developing an appropriate treatment plan.
WYA’s contact with the referring source(s) is limited to gathering general information and reporting on whether the youth is responding to services.
Client Counseling Services
SHORT-TERM COUNSELING
WYA Staff provides short-term counseling to young people and families in need of supportive counseling and behavior monitoring, when other services may be beyond the family’s resources. Participating families may also choose to participate in Youth Assistance community programs, such as Family Education, Camp, and Recreation Programs.
REFERRAL to ADDITIONAL SERVICES
In certain instances, the referral problem is a symptom of underlying difficulties of a more complex or long-term nature. In such cases, Waterford Youth Assistance has contacts with an array of services in the surrounding community and can facilitate a referral to an agency that can provide long-term care. If you believe your child may benefit from services, please download, fill out, and return the referral form below. WYA has professional caseworks ready to assist your child to ensure you are on the right road to family success.