Montgomery County Juvenile Court Natural Helpers

Mission Statement

Natural Helpers (Formerly known as Reclaiming Futures) brings together judges, probation officers, treatment providers, families and community members to improve drug and alcohol treatment for young people in trouble with the law. During a five-year pilot phase, Montgomery County Juvenile Court was one of 10 communities selected to participate in this national project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. These first 10 communities created and tested a new six-step model that screens teens for drug and alcohol problems, assesses the severity of substance use, provides prompt access to a treatment plan coordinated by a service team, and connects teens with employers, mentors and volunteer service projects. Natural Helpers focuses on three common goals for teens: more treatment, better treatment and community connections beyond treatment.