It is well recognized that youth, encompassing adolescents (under 18) and transitional-aged youth (18-24), have diverse substance use patterns, needs, and trajectories that do not follow a one size fits all service model. Rather, youth have diverse needs given their complex neurodevelopment physical, emotional and social changes occurring throughout the youth period that serve to increase risk trajectories for co-occurring substance use and mental health related problems. As such, improved access to, and availability of, comprehensive services that are tailored to the diverse needs of youth populations has been a long-standing behavioral health priority both federally and locally. If not adequately addressed through evidence based programming, the stability, persistence, and aversive long-term outcomes of co-occurring substance use and mental health problems among youth remain evident across the lifespan, negatively affecting health outcomes and quality of life, as well as communities and systems from substantial disease burden, morbidity, and mortality. Hence, the overall goal of Project TREE is to increase access to early intervention, treatment and recovery services that integrate evidence based practices in a community based organization (Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc.) that uniquely address the needs of youth aged 13-24 (and their families/caregivers) in priority catchment areas of Los Angeles County that have limited access to such services.
