A Quick History and Present Focus

The profession of psychology and therapeutic counseling has changed dramatically since 1968, when Touchstone Behavioral Health was known as Arizona Boys Community. Residential Treatment services were discontinued in 1995. In 2003 our name changed from Touchstone Community, Inc. to Touchstone Behavioral Health.

A change in treatment concept took place as it became clear that children need to have lasting improvement in their home environment, within a supportive community. Advancements have been made using programs that have proven, sustainable results that can be replicated successfully in several communities. These new programs are nevertheless flexible enough to have customized treatments plans built into the model.

Touchstone Behavioral Health is proud to offer the model programs called Blueprints, With staff trained in four evidence-based* programs. Touchstone Behavioral Health is ahead of the curve in Arizona. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) recognizes only 11 programs in the country that have earned the Blueprints program distinction. The Blueprints Program is a national violence prevention initiative to identify violence prevention programs that are effective in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggression, delinquency, and substance abuse.

* Definition of an evidence-based program:

-- A model program which is designed to have built-in evaluations that track criteria for effectiveness;

-- Delinquent behavior is significantly reduced during an evidence based program treatment and for a sustained period of time after the program intervention is completed;

-- Demonstrated changes in behavior can be directly related to a child's participation in the program;

-- The successful outcome of the program can be replicated in different communitites in a cost effective manner.

Additional Resource:
Blueprints Project for Violence Prevention
http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/index.html