Connections4Life!

The Connections4Life! Relapse Prevention Program is designed to help youth who are currently in, or have recently completed, substance abuse treatment become better connected to their families, peers, community and resources to help them remain sober, avoid relapse and introduce them to a sustainable drug-free lifestyle.

Youth are referred to the Connections4Life! program by parents, counselors, schools, community programs and by the Dallas Challenge outpatient treatment program. Upon referral, an assessment determines the exact level of care needed and staff act as a guide for the youth throughout the program and upon completion.

Housed at the Dallas Challenge North Oak Cliff Treatment Facility, the Connections4Life! program targets youth age 10-17 beginning in the Maintenance and Relapse Prevention stage of their treatment process, when youth are sober and ready to transition into a new lifestyle, and will continue for nine (9) weeks total, for an hour and a half each session. Parents are also engaged in the program to learn how to positively support their child's recovery.

The Connections4Life! program includes five essential areas to connect youth with the support they need including:

• Personal Connection – Youth participants focus on stress management techniques to avoid negative emotional states. A Personal Recovery Plan is developed to identify personal goals and effective methods of staying sober and living a drug-free lifestyle.
• Family Connection – Parents and/or guardians learn about the recovery process, the importance of providing a sober environment and how to assertively re-intervene in the face of a relapse episode while increasing family bonding through fun family activities.
• Social Connection – Sober friends of participants are invited to participate in activities that teach them how to have fun and relate to each other socially without the use of substances. They also learn about the importance of avoiding certain social situations in which illegal substances are present or encouraged and how to maintain positive peer relationships.
• Health Connection – Community health volunteers lead sessions about important issues including eating correctly, stress reduction, HIV/AIDS and other STDs and physical fitness.
• Community Connection – Individual, peer and family activities build character and help participants engage in the community by learning new skills and activities that can enhance and support a drug-free lifestyle.

Participants and their parents are encouraged to contact staff members at any time during or after the program should questions or other concerns arise. Follow-up phone calls will be made at one, three, six and twelve month intervals throughout the year following the completion of the nine-week program to encourage the participants to continue their recovery program and serve as a resource for parents or other family members.

For more information about the Connections4Life! Relapse Prevention Program
please call 214.942.5166
or e-mail: info@dallaschallenge.org

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