Have questions about Vantage Point?
Find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions here. For more information about Vantage Point, call 801-373-2215.
Find the answers to Frequently Asked Questions here. For more information about Vantage Point, call 801-373-2215.
What is Vantage Point?Vantage Point (VP) is a home-like facility meant to be a safe place for teenagers. VP provides short-term shelter and time-out placement for vulnerable adolescents, as well as crisis intervention and family counseling. This includes runaway and homeless youth, or youth at risk to become so.What are some reasons that youth come to Vantage Point?A youth has left home without permission (runaway) or is at high risk to do so. A youth is experiencing intense conflict with the parent/guardian and they are unable to resolve it without a brief time away from home. A youth is homeless, or a youth is in foster care and needs temporary shelter while waiting a foster home placement. VP is not an appropriate facility to bring a youth for babysitting and is for youth and families in crisis only.What happens if my youth is brought to VP by police?Police bring kids to VP often, usually because they refuse to come cooperatively/safely with their parents. When police bring youth to VP, they can stay up to 12 hours before needing to be returned home or checked into the facility by a parent/guardian. Upon being checked in, a youth can stay at Vantage Point for up to 48 hours.Can a youth check themselves into VP?Yes. We will, however, contact their legal guardian and coordinate further services.What are the ages of the youth who stay at Vantage Point?VP generally accepts youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Depending on circumstances, VP can accept kids as young as 10 years old (generally 10 and 11 year olds do not stay the night). Will my child be around ‘bad kids’ at VP?Most of the youth that come to VP are facing the same types of issues. Kids who have serious legal offenses are generally taken to Detention, not to Vantage Point. Kids with sexual charges are not able to stay at VP. Staff at Vantage Point monitor the kids’ interactions to the best of their ability. Vantage Point does not guarantee that your child will not be influenced by the choices of their peers, however the main goal is for them to be safe.How long do youth stay at VP?The stay is 48 hours unless circumstances warrant longer (example: homeless youth). What is the cost? The services at VP are free to the consumer. VP is funded by State (Juvenile Justice Services, Wasatch Mental Health, and DCFS) and Federal sources (Runaway and Homeless Youth Grant).
There are fees for stays longer than 48 hours to cover costs of room and board. These fees are not covered by Medicaid. Clients are not charged for clinical/treatment services. If a youth has Medicaid, we will require a copy of their card, as Wasatch Behavioral Health is a Medicaid provider. Medicaid insurance is NOT necessary to stay at Vantage Point. Is Vantage Point a punishment?No. Also, a youth cannot receive court charges for coming to Vantage Point.Is VP a lockdown facility?No, all placements are voluntary, although there are alarms on the doors and windows. Efforts are made to prevent runaway behavior, but youth will not be physically restrained or detained if attempting to run. If a youth does run, we contact the parent/guardian and make a police report.What do kids do at VP?Vantage Point follows a daily schedule that includes meals, exercise, free time, and homework time. Staff run groups with the kids based around the concept that we are each in control of our choices but not the consequences of those choices. What is the check in process like?Before checking in, we would prefer for a parent/guardian to call and ensure that we have space available for their youth. Also, we would like the youth to bring two changes of modest and weather appropriate clothing (underwear, socks, pants, and shirts), prescription medications in the original packaging, and any homework they may need to work on during their stay. All belongings are searched and inventoried upon check in. Items not appropriate for VP (lighters, gang apparel, weapons, sharp objects, etc) will be either returned to the guardian at check in or locked up and returned to the guardian upon check out.
Upon arriving at VP, the youth and the parent/guardian will meet with an intake worker who will assist them in filling out the necessary paperwork. They will also discuss why the youth is coming to VP, address any questions or concerns, and describe what will happen after intake. The youth is then introduced to the program and the parent/guardian is able to leave. Who may have contact with my child at Vantage Point?Only those the parent/guardian has approved may have contact with the youth while at VP. A legal guardian must sign the client in, but as long as they’re approved by the parent/guardian, anyone can check them out.How late is Vantage Point open?Vantage Point is a 24 hour facility. Therapists are generally available from 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday. Case Managers are generally available from 8 am to 9 pm every day.Does Vantage Point accept both males and females?Yes. The youth are participating in activities together under supervision. At nighttime, they are separated for sleeping arrangements.What are the room arrangements?Most likely, the youth will need to share a room with another youth of the same gender. Our policy is that the youth need to be with 2 years of each other’s age in order to share a room together (example: a 12 year old will not share a room with a 16 year old). How many youth can stay at Vantage Point at once?We have capacity for 12 youth in our facility. After we reach capacity, we cannot admit any more youth to our shelter. We can place the youth on a waiting list and/or refer you to other possible resources. This may include outpatient therapy or attending a class at Vantage Point.What is the staff to youth ratio?Depending on the time of day, the ratio is about three youth to one staff.Who works at VP?VP employs a program manager, an administrative assistant, two therapists, three case managers, and 18 human service workers. VP also generally has at least one therapist intern. All staff have passed a comprehensive criminal and background screening.How does VP handle medication?VP does not prescribe medications. The only non-prescription medications given to a youth during their stay at VP would be over the counter medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, etc) which would require a parent/guardian’s permission. If a youth has a prescription medication they need to take during their stay at VP, we require the medication to be in the original prescription bottle with the prescription intact. We have a nurse package them so we can administer them. They are administered according to the instructions on the prescription.Does a youth have to live in Utah County to go to Vantage Point?No. Vantage Point serves Utah, Juab, Millard, and Wasatch Counties.Can a youth be refused services at VP?Yes. A youth must be able to care for themselves hygienically or they may not be appropriate for the program. Youth who are inebriated or otherwise impaired will need to be medically cleared before being admitted to Vantage Point. Youth who will not commit to safety while at VP are generally not admitted. Also, youth with sexual charges or a risk to sexually offend are not allowed at Vantage Point.What if my youth is suicidal?If a youth is suicidal, the WBH crisis line will be called at (801) 373-7393. If the youth commits to safety, they will be admitted to VP where they will be placed on suicide watch. This means that staff will specifically watch them for suicidal behavior and call Crisis if necessary. If the youth will not commit to safety, further options may be available through contacting Crisis.What if my child/youth has problems at school?Academic problems should be directed to your child’s teacher or the school counseling office. Behavioral issues should also be directed to the counseling office; however, Vantage Point may be an appropriate resource to work together with the school’s efforts.What if my child is experiencing problems with substance abuse?Vantage Point offers group treatment for early intervention of substance abuse issues. Contact Vantage Point for meeting times. In depth assessments, and recommendations for treatment, can be provided by Utah County Youth Assessment and Treatment Services. The phone number is (801) 370-8428. You will need your social security number to make an appointment.Can my youth be drug tested at VP?We do have drug test kits available for $10 each. They are urine analysis and must be administered by the parent/guardian. These drug tests cannot be used as evidence, and are for your information only. VP staff cannot force a youth to take a drug test, nor can they administer one. How do I get enrolled in VP’s Anger Management course?You will need to call Vantage Point to get your name on the list and find out when the next course begins. The class runs for 7 weeks every Thursday from 4-5 pm. A parent/guardian is required to attend with the youth.What if I don’t pick up my child from Vantage Point?Parents or guardians are responsible for checking out youth from Vantage Point at an agreed upon checkout time. Failure to do so may result in a dependency report to the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS).