Why is the IHS proposing the YRTCs?

The U.S. Congress authorized the YRTCs in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. In 1992, Congress amended the Act authorizing IHS to construct and operate two YRTCs in California, one to serve northern California, and one to serve the remainder of the state. Currently, most of California’s Indian youth who receive residential chemical dependency treatment are sent to out-of-state facilities. Often, out-of-state programs do not address the unique cultural needs of Indian youth, and cannot offer effective family therapy. These facilities do not have the capacity to meet the need in California, and often Indian youth and their families experience long delays before they receive care. Some receive no residential treatment at all. The new YRTCs in California will be an important step to helping thousands of Indian youth in California who need residential care.