Programs
Attendance Counseling Team 360 (ACT 360)
ACT 360 allows the school districts in Blair County to access help for students who
struggle with attendance. This program is an all-inclusive, intensive
prevention/intervention counseling program that helps school aged children, and their
families, set and meet goals for their success. This model is unique to targeting
attendance issues from a 360 degree approach. The Attendance Counseling Team will
be available for routine scheduled family/youth appointments, court hearings,
provider meetings and school meetings. The ACT 360 program is typically involved
with youth/families for around 3 to 4 months. The program will focus on whatever
treatment modality best matches to the family/youth as identified by the family/youth
and counselors.
ALLIES
ALLIES is a group for LGBTQI youth and families exist to create a
sense of community, empowerment, and support. The groups are structured
to achieve both a feeling of "safe space" with total respect for privacy
and confidentiality. ALLIES is available to all local LGBTQI youth and
their families. Monthly meetings will include fun activities,
informational discussions, and opportunities for safe, healthy
socialization. Group topics and focuses will be unique from meeting to
meeting. Sensitivity towards the vulnerability of this growing
population is key to creating the right environment for growth and
development. The group is currently being provided voluntarily by
Evolution Expressions so advertising for groups has been restricted
to distribution to flyers to local schools, agencies, community centers,
doctor's offices, and businesses. Being able to spread the word about
the groups and reaching out to all those who may benefit is key to
its success. For more information or to be a part of the groups call
Evolution Counseling Services at 814-201-2751.
Delinquency Prevention (DP)
Delinquency Prevention is an intensive prevention counseling
program that helps Blair County youth up to 18 years old and their
families set and meet their goals for success. This model is
exceptionally versatile because it is not limited to any one
treatment modality and the referred families do not need to be open
with CYF or JPO. Depending on the youth/family’s needs, one or two
counselors work with the family, one of which works primarily with
the parents while the other works with the youth. Individual,
Group, and Family meetings are all utilized to help the family meet
their goals. The Delinquency Prevention Program can be utilized as
a frontline prevention service as well as an intervention service
and can also be used as a step down supportive service.
Evolution Expressions
We are committed to empowering youth and their families to make informed & positive lifestyle choices, accepting responsibility for self-care, and achieving optimal levels of wellness while striving to reach ones full potential.
By providing a safe environment, individuals and families can learn and grow through the freedom of personal and artistic expression. Our goal is to provide opportunities in a positive community environment which increases the number of protective factors in ones life during and after participation in diverse programming.
Family Adolescent Crisis Emergency Intervention Team (FACE IT)
The Family Adolescent Crisis Emergency Intervention Team (FACE IT) program
provides a brief, solution focused approach to in-home crisis prevention/intervention
services. The program works with youth, ages 0-18, and their families who reside in
Blair County. FACE IT includes 24/7 on-call crisis prevention services in an effort to
help families reduce their need to involve county crisis and police services in their
efforts to resolve escalation. This program has been developed to provide immediate
support to youth and their families that are struggling to receive appropriate mental
health services or are involved with JPO or CYF.
Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)
Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a strengths-based, collaborative process that brings together family members, extended family, and community supports to make important decisions about the care, safety, and well-being of children or vulnerable family members. By empowering families to take an active role in identifying solutions to challenges, FGDM leverages the support and resources within their social networks to create sustainable, culturally appropriate plans. While it is most commonly used in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health settings, FGDM is also applicable in any situation where families need to make significant decisions about care, safety, or treatment. Unlike traditional agency meetings where family members are invited, FGDM is more of a family gathering to which service providers are invited, allowing the family to take the lead in the decision-making process.
Juvenile Resources for Creating Employment Opportunities (JR CEO)
The juvenile resources for creating employment opportunities program, or JR CEO, focuses on developing the necessary skills and experiences for adolescents attempting to enter the workforce. The program will assist youth in their development of key job related skills, allow them to participate in mock interviews, gain employment, establish social supports, improve mental health, and provide support in all aspects of their lives. The participants are identified based on their individual needs and will have the opportunity to meet with a counselor one-on-one during the 3-4 month service time. This cost free program is designed to serve youth ranging in ages 14 to 21 years old who reside in Blair County PA. Referrals for the JR CEO program can come from Blair County Juvenile Probation, Blair County Children Youth and Families, and the community.
Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)
Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) transforms lives through family-centered treatment for youth struggling with substance use, mental health, and other challenges. It gives parents hope and tangible help and enables youth to create a positive lifestyle. Through MDFT, youth and their family will communicate more effectively, function better day-to-day, and grow closer and stronger together. Therapists work with youth ages 10-18 and their families. MDFT is proven to reduce substance use, mental health symptoms, aggressive behavior, negative peer relationships, crime and delinquency, and out-of-home placement over 4-6 months. This evidence-based model allows therapists to work with the youth individually to improve mental health, formulate long-term goals, and improve emotional regulation. With the parents, the therapist will help to strengthen parental teamwork, improve parenting skills, and enhance parental well-being and self-care. The entire family unit will work to improve family communication and family function to strengthen family connection and love. Finally, the therapist will work with the family and youth to improve relationships with school, court, legal, workplace, and other social systems.
NCTI JPO
The group curricula and goals will be identified at the time of referral based on the
youth's criminogenic needs and YLS score. The National Curriculum Training
Institutes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has many curricula to address adolescent's
needs. These include; Life Skills, Drug & Alcohol, Truancy, Curfew, Misdemeanor
offenses, Felony Offenses, Anger Management, Gangs, etc. Each group will be
facilitated by three Evolution Counseling staff that will meet weekly with 4 to 10
identified youth for approximately seven to fourteen sessions.
Outpatient Therapy
(Accepting Youth with Commercial Highmark and Blue Cross Blue Shield)
Meeting Your Personal, Family & Relationship Needs
We offer the convenience of outpatient therapy on a
variety of mental health and addiction issues. You,
your family or friends will learn skills and receive the support needed to cope with such issues.
After these skills are taught, we then help you use them at home, school, work and in the
community. For Outpatient, please call 814-201-2751.
- Individual Adult Therapy: Provided by licensed, advanced-level, and knowledgeable therapists, individual therapy focuses on a variety of life hurdles such as stress, trauma, anger management, depression, anxiety and panic disorders, and adjusting to major life changes.
- Family Therapy: At Evolution, we offer a family friendly atmosphere to help families adjust to life circumstances and improve the quality of their relationships.
- Child/Adolescent Therapy: Our trained and experienced therapists work extensively with children/adolescents on issues such as: life adjustments, anxiety, depression, anger management, behavior challenges, attention deficit disorder, social anxieties, bullying, self-harm, autism, and other common child/adolescent challenges.
Substance Outpatient Services (SOS)
Evolution Counseling Services, LLC is pleased to announce the opening of Substance Outpatient Services
(SOS) which is a Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs licensed drug and alcohol clinic. The SOS
program will service individuals 12 years of age and older on the Outpatient Services level of care (Level 1.0)
who are currently combatting a substance use disorder. SOS is located at 801 S. Kettle Street, Altoona,
PA 16602. SOS is separate from all other Evolution Counseling Services programming, including being located
on a different floor of the building. All sessions are held in office and referrals can be made by phone, in person,
or by another provider utilizing our referral form.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
If your child has experienced any traumatic event(s), cognitive behavioral therapy and social learning theory principles can assist with: decreasing PTSD symptoms, managing negative trauma-related emotions, academic difficulties, interpersonal trust, social competencies, behavioral problems, family conflicts, recognizing and responding to abusive situations, as well as handling anxiety and depression. Please contact Evolution or complete and submit a TF-CBT referral form to begin the healing process.
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Positive Parenting Program is a multi-level system of family intervention for parents/guardians of children who have or are at risk of developing behavior problems. It is a preventative oriented program which aims to promote positive, caring relationships between parents/guardians and their children, and to help parents/guardians develop effective management strategies for dealing with a variety of childhood behavioral and emotional problems.
Level 4 Triple P: is an intensive 10-session individual or 8-session group parent/guardian training program for parents/guardians of children with moderate to severe behavioral difficulties. This program model is an evidence based guided curriculum where parents/guardians work with a specially trained counselor to complete a family workbook. All materials for the program are provided when families are enrolled in services. Services are implemented in-home or at the Evolution Counseling Services LLC office upon request. Evolution Counseling Services LLC offers Standard Level 4 Triple P for ages 2-12, Level 4 Standard Teen for ages 12-16, and Level 4 Standard Group Triple P for ages 2-12, and Level 4 Teen Group Triple P for ages 12-16.
The funding for this program is payed for by Pennsylvania tax payer dollars.
Victim / Community Awareness
The Victim/Community Awareness course curriculum is designed to help juveniles understand the
effects that crimes have on victims, their friends and families, and the community. Each course will be
facilitated by two Evolution Counseling staff members that will meet with a group of 3-6 youth one time
for approximately 3 hours. Participants in this course will explore their own offenses, who their victims
were, and how to be accountable for their behaviors. Referrals for this program are received from the
Blair County Juvenile Probation Office.