Cigarettes used to be the primary vice among teenagers when it came to tobacco use. However, additional options like vaping pens make it possible for teens to consume tobacco in other ways. Starting a nicotine addiction at a young age makes it more likely that your child may carry that habit over into adulthood. Destinations…
While vaping is more culturally accepted than smoking cigarettes, this doesn’t mean it’s safer. Vape use by teens has skyrocketed in recent years due to advertising, peer pressure, and stress. Many of the side effects of vaping (also known as e-cigarettes) are not well known because vaping technology is still relatively new. One thing is…
National LGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week is meant to highlight the difficulties that many in the community have regarding getting treatment for health, addiction, and mental health issues. Existing LGBTQIA+ health disparities mean that individuals often run into problems with discrimination, having their partnerships recognized, and finding resources that allow them to get the help they…
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the U.S. and the world. Normal routines like going to school and work got disrupted, resulting in many people ending up in social isolation, away from those they relied on for vital daily connections. Many teenagers felt the impact of safety restrictions, participating in virtual learning in a…
People often worry about different aspects of life, especially teenagers adjusting to internal and external changes. It’s one thing to have concerns about when everything seems hectic and complicated. It’s another thing entirely when those worries start consuming your existence. Male anxiety can present different symptoms than those seen in females. Teen anxiety can be hard for…
Self-Injury Awareness Day is recognized internationally on March 1st. The event brings awareness about the prevalence of self-harm among individuals. Past research has shown that up to 4% of adults and 15% of adolescents acted out some form of self-harm. The increased self-injury rates among young people have caused Destination for Teens to address the issue. What…
Making the decision to get teen addiction help is difficult for every parent. View this condition as a disease like any other. Invest in teen treatment programs in the same manner as providing a loved one with care for an injury or illness. While this is much different, the care needed may be just as…
Substance abuse remains a major issue among teenagers. According to information that has been published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close to 20 percent of high school seniors have reported trying prescription medications without a prescription at some point in their lives. Therefore, it is vital for people to recognize the treatment…
If you have a teenager, you know that some challenges and joys come with this time of their life. Teenagers are in the process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, parents get to experience the best of both worlds. On the other hand, this also means that parents experience the challenges that come with…
Young people love to have a good time. Sometimes they’ll go to extremes — by introducing drugs that they think will help them have a better time by intensifying the experience. But these substances, known as party drugs, have dark effects that can alter the course of someone’s life. Party drugs act powerfully on the…
Destinations For Teens staff are actively getting vaccinated through the county and the hope is to have the majority of our staff vaccinated by the end of January, 2021. Destinations For Teens is likewise committed to educating staff to the benefits of vaccinating and to providing access to the vaccine to all employees. By minimizing the risk of transmission, Destinations For Teens is working hard to protect its clients, families and employees from contracting the COVID-19 virus.
A dedicated COVID-19 task force, including our Medical Director, Clinical Director and our Director of Nursing, provides written materials and verbal education and training to all staff. In the words of Dr. Baback Gabbay, Destinations For Teens Chief Medical Director, the message could not be simpler: "We are committed to the health and well-being of our patients and families. Our staff is committed to the CDC recommend cleaning protocols and have been fortunate to receive the Moderna or Pzifer Covid vaccine this week. Vaccination is important in order to help keep all our employees and the families we serve safe".
In addition to distributing vaccinations, Destinations For Teens facilities has implemented the following procedures for all in-person programs:
• Established a revised screening process for admissions, including questions about recent fevers, travel and mandated negative COVID-19 test results. Anyone who poses a risk to our centers will not be admitted.
• Implement active screening of residents and staff for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.
• Screen all staff at the beginning of their shift for fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Actively take the staff’s temperature and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, and sore throat. If they are ill, have them put on a facemask and self-isolate at home.
• Destinations For Teens has revised how they interact with vendors and receiving supplies and equipment, and other non-health care providers (e.g., food delivery, etc.), and take necessary actions to prevent any potential transmission. For example, supply vendors transport supplies to dedicated locations versus inside of facilities.
• In lieu of in-person visits, facilities are offering alternative means of communication for people who would otherwise visit, such as virtual communications (phone, video-communication, etc.)
• Creating/increasing communication to update families, such as advising to not visit.
• Assigning staff as primary contact to families for inbound calls and conduct regular outbound calls to keep families up to date.