Back on Track
Mission Statement & Beliefs

Back on Track is an outpatient aftercare program for teens who have successfully completed a residential treatment program, residential treatment school, or a wilderness program. Our Mission is to ensure the successful reintegration of these teens into their schools, social networks, and families so that their positive changes and healthier self image can be sustained.

We accomplish our Mission through a skillfully interwoven and professionally guided series of support groups for teens, parents, and multiple families.

1. Teen Support Groups allow teens to get honest and direct feedback and support from their peers.
2. Parent Support Groups allow parents to explore ways to set limits and deal with changing family dynamics.
3. Multi-family Groups allow family members to address issues that are common in families with teens returning from therapeutic programs.

Our Beliefs

1. Teens who return from wilderness and therapeutic programs come back with good communication skills, better attitudes, and concrete goals that become part of a formal or implied family contract.
2. An ongoing, safe healing process is needed for teens, siblings, and parents to work through the difficult period preceding the teen’s residential treatment.
3. Supporting these newly learned behaviors in the context of their families and communities will promote lasting changes for the teens and their families.
4. It is easier to sustain new behaviors and skills with family support, guidance and understanding.
5. Families provide the safety and connectedness needed for teens to individuate and to eventually leave home, and are the most powerful and important support for the teen.
6. Building trust between teens, parents, and siblings is crucial for future successful relationships.
7. Good self-esteem for teens is the building block for future success.

Supported by these beliefs, we assist families as they navigate through the sensitive process of reintegration, by improving communication, adjusting the family system, and empowering teens and parents.

Shlomit Gross, Ph.D   (415) 383-8172
Charles Marshall, Ph.D   (415) 970-0468