Parents and teens in conflict have a new option in a center that serves as a temporary time-out, giving both parties a chance to cool down and reassess their situations.

In addition, Vantage Point, which is part of Wasatch Mental Health, provides a place for police to bring teens if they need help or have committed a minor offense for which they do not need to be incarcerated and the police cannot locate their parents.

Lt. Sam Liddiard of the American Fork Police Department said having the facility in the community helps the department.

"We love the fact that it's close by," he said. "It saves us a trip to Provo. Having them close by is a benefit to us. It saves time, gas and money. The officer can run back locally and be back on patrol. It's a big benefit to the community."

Vantage Point North opened in early April and serves primarily as a juvenile receiving center.

"Through this location, youth and their families can get linked to the other services that we provide," a company brochure explains.

Program manager Scott Taylor said the center opened in American Fork because of the booming population in that part of the county.

"We decided to expand because the north part of Utah County is growing, and is probably one of the fastest-growing places in the entire state," he said. "In the last four or five years it has increased by 50,000 to 60,000 people. We have wanted to expand in American Fork for a long time. Law enforcement and community people have wanted to use Vantage Point and their services."

One individual from the community who has sent teens to Vantage Point is Jim Young, assistant principal at American Fork Junior High School.

"It's an option we give parents," he said. "It can provide help before they get into the juvenile justice system. It's worth its weight in gold."

Along with being a receiving center for troubled teens, Vantage Point offers one-on-one and group help for them and their parents.

"We do a lot of classes that are court-ordered," said intern Lorna Heppler. One example of those is an anger management class.

American Fork's center does not offer overnight stays, but the staff may take the teens to the Provo facility if they determine that is best.

"Parents can bring kids for a couple of hours," said case manager Amalia Smith. "If need be we can take them down to Provo."

Taylor said the time at Vantage Point can provide a cooling-off period for both parents and teens, which can prevent problems from escalating.

"A big part of what we do is early intervention," he said. "We want to get involved with families and tell them what things we have available to help them."

"Our overall goal is to keep kids from escalating into the juvenile justice system," he said. Once that happens, the teens often feel they lose many of their behavioral options, he said.

He said the Provo facility has 100 to 120 admissions a month, and that 35 to 40 of those are brought by police. With American Fork's facility being relatively new, there are not as many, but Taylor said the word is getting out to those who may have the need.

Approximately two-thirds of the funding is provided by the state through the Juvenile Justice program, Taylor said. In addition, there is also federal funding.

"Our services are free to the parents and families," he said.

The services of Vantage Point are offered for youth who are 10-17 years old, plus their families. When teens stay there, they are required to follow rules and structure, but are not punished for negative behavior which occurred before coming in. Having to follow those rules may be a deterrent to keep some from coming back, said Young. He said he has seen success with those who attend and said he could attribute some of that to the structure.

"A lot of kids don't want to go back," he said. "It's not a picnic for the kids. They make them see they are part of the problem. We have had good results."

While most of the teens who go to Vantage Point end up back with their families, some go on to foster homes, Taylor said. That decision is made only after months of treatment.

Smith said the short time provided by time away can often be a big help.

"The best service is just them getting a break from each other," she said. "They take a step back and get some perspective."

Taylor agreed.

"That prevents so many problems from getting escalated," he said.

In addition to teens coming in for help, the center gets telephone calls from the community.

"We just talk to them on the phone," Taylor said. "It is kind of a help for teenagers in crisis."

Whatever help they offer to a specific teen or parent, the staff members said it is good to have another location in north Utah County.

"It is not unusual for us to have a waiting list in Provo," Taylor said. "This expands our capacity."

Liddiard agreed.

"Vantage Point is a great tool for us," Liddiard said. "They are fantastic. Whenever we have kids that don't warrant going to the detention center, Vantage Point is a great place to take them."

Vantage Point

548 E. 300 South in Courtyard Plaza, American Fork (south of Gene Harvey)

(801) 852-1487

Open Monday to Friday, 2-7 p.m.