Linkages to Learning Program  (LTL) - a school-based mental health and social services program, is offered in collaboration with eight Montgomery County elementary and middle schools and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in the Gaithersburg and Germantown school/community region. Through our partnership with Family Services, Inc.’s  community mental health clinic, GUIDE mental health clinicians make available a continuum of mental health treatment services to children and their families directly in the school setting.  Individual, group, and family therapy, psychiatric evaluation and assessment, medication prescription, and psycho-educational services are available.  Evidence supported play therapy is utilized as are expressive and other activity-based service strategies.  LTL casework personnel help families secure needed resources and navigate the complexities of the social services system.  Community education events and social activities are arranged.  LTL ensures that services are culturally competent and meaningful to the ethnic, racial, and language diversity of our community.  Many staff are native speakers of Spanish.

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Regional Youth Service Centers - serving Olney, Gaithersburg, and the Upper Montgomery County region provide children, youth, and families an array of after-school, prevention, early intervention, and counseling services.  Certified as a Youth Service Bureau (YSB), the programs include an offering of diversion services and other activities whose goal it is to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system. (Learn about Maryland’s YSBs at www.MAYSB.com.)  Tutoring for children and youth who may be struggling with school achievement; counseling for families and children who may be experiencing adjustment issues; drug and alcohol awareness education for youth beginning to experiment with substance abuse; crisis intervention for youth and families experiencing personal and family upheaval and trauma; assistance in navigating the complexities of the social services system; and, alternative leisure time and cultural events for those needing positive youth development activities are all part of GUIDE’s array of youth and family services.  Staff offer services that affirm the ethnic, racial, and language diversity of the region and the center’s offer special outreach to individuals of Hispanic, Asian, and our other local ethnic communities. The ability to take services into schools and other community locations is a distinctive aspect of the youth service centers.

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Programs for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

Therapeutic Group Homes - Children need a healthy, nurturing, family environment in order to thrive and grow. Some children need something in addition to help out for a while – a healing, therapeutic environment with caring mental health professionals.  With programs serving the wider Baltimore area and Maryland Metropolitan Washington region, our two adolescent residential programs provide intensive mental health treatment for boys between the ages of 13 and 18 referred to us from child welfare, juvenile justice, and other care managers.  The homes provide regular, intensive treatment services imbedded in a caring, therapeutic, home-like environment capable of providing that something extra that these unique children need to prepare them to return to their homes and communities as soon as possible.  Services include regular family therapy and outreach with an overall family centered approach.  (A program brochure and information flyer are available on this website.)

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Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program - located in the Gaithersburg community GUIDE’s TAY Independence Program is a mental health service providing a continuum of resources to young adults 18 to 25 years old as they are transitioning from adolescents into adulthood.  The goal of the program is to assist these young people in preparing for independent living, and to help them learn to manage mental health challenges that otherwise have presented significant barriers to personal success.  The TAY Program offers psychiatric rehabilitation and residential services, a Supported Living Service, a Supported Employment Program and a Day Program that provides an array of instructional and recreational activities. TAY services include helping with issues of medication management, employment readiness skills enhancement and job placement, educational encouragement and collaboration, and other supportive services required in daily life.  Family involvement is encouraged and supported as is independence and peer group activities and opportunities.

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Programs for Adults with Mental Illness

The GUIDE Independence Program - As part of Maryland’s Public Mental Health System an array of vertically integrated supportive and rehabilitative services are available in Prince George’s County for adults with psychiatric challenges and disabilities. GUIDE Independence provides residential rehabilitation, psychiatric rehabilitation, and a Supported Employment Program.  Our consumers may reside in a GUIDE operated group home or apartment setting, or live independently in the community.  Our staff provide program participants assistance, as needed in self directed care including managing medication, transportation, budgeting, employment, leisure time pursuits, and other life activities.  Residents of our homes and apartments are assisted in attending day-time programs, keeping clinic and medical appointments, attending school or educational program, and employment.  Case management is available as needed to ensure integrated linkages with healthcare providers, social services resources, and other public and private entitlements and resources. 

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Development and Management of Affordable Housing -  GUIDE develops, renovates, and manages homes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.  The GUIDE organization includes three nonprofit housing affiliates GUIDE Trexler, Marywood, and Nashville Homes whose mission it is to provide affordable homes for individuals of low to moderate income, and who have a psychiatric disability.  Our homes are usually developed through assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Maryland. Our tenants are provided affordable and quality living venues in local community settings.

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