Politics & Government
SOCASA Looks to Implement Teen Screen at Pearl River, Tappan Zee High Schools
Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan expressed concernes about the Teen Screen program, which will be part of the agenda for Orangetown Town Board meeting 7:30 p.m. April 26.
Vickie Shaw of South Orangetown Community Awareness of Substance Abuse (SOCASA) spoke to the Orangetown Town Board during a workshop last week about bringing a new tool for dealing with teen problems to Pearl River and Tappan Zee High Schools.
The Teen Screen Program is used to identify teens battling depression and substance abuse. SOCASA is willing to put forward $1,000 to fund the program and is asking the town to match that number.
"It is a national program," Shaw said. "There is a lot of evidence that it works. It is used to identify youth at risk. It is a volunteer program. Teens are not forced into it."
Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to Shaw, social workers hold up to three meetings with a young person as part of the process -- one for screening, one a debriefing and finally one with parents involved.
"One of five teens ahve some kind of mental health or substance abuse problem," Shaw said. "Of that one in five, 85 percent are not identified fast enough."
Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shaw was asked why Nyack High School was not included in the proposal and agreed that it would be a logical next step. Orangetown Councilwman Nancy Low-Hogan said that was just one of the questions she had with the program. She said Tuesday afternoon that she is unlikely to vote for it with the information she has. The program has generated controversy in other parts of the country.
“I’m still looking into it," Low-Hogan said. "I’m checking with six different people I know involved in youth mental health area to get additional information from them because I can see why it’s controversial.
"I have several questions about this. I'm still concerned that it does not involve Nyack High School. (Another) concern is that it was not on the agenda (for the workshop) last week."
Low-Hogan did ask for more information, but wants to know more.
"What I was given was an email. I think we need a formal program proposal, something that is clear."
Editor's note: Updated with comments from Orangetown Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
