MISSION

BASES is dedicated to providing a drug free environment for young people and to providing substance abuse prevention, education and early intervention services to young people and their families in northwest lower Michigan.

HISTORY

Bay Area Substance Education Services, Inc. (BASES) was founded in 1993 as a private, non-profit, licensed substance abuse provider. In 1997, BASES took over the Charlevoix Teen Center to provide stability to that struggling organization. The Teen Center is dedicated to providing teens after school social and recreational opportunities as a preventative method for avoiding substance abuse and violence problems.

BASES continues to offer the after school social / recreational program each weekday. BASES is recognized as the leader in adolescent substance abuse prevention, early intervention and treatment in the northwest lower Michigan area due to its innovative programs that make a difference in the lives of young people.
Some of these programs involve:

• Early intervention for adolescent substance abusers,
• Violence prevention training,
• Parent education / awareness sessions,
• Community mobilization efforts and
• Public-awareness initiatives.

Right - These girl scouts from Charlevoix donated cookies to the after-school program for snacks.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

GET THE JOB DONE
We are committed to doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, in order to help a young person who is serious about becoming drug free.

HELP YOUNG PEOPLE SORT OUT THEIR LIVES
We help young people determine what they want, and help them get there. We will work very hard if they are willing to do the same.

BETTER SOONER THAN LATER
The courts, county and state agencies, school systems and others refer young people to us for services. We are committed to timely reporting to enable our partners to operate effectively.

LEARN AS YOU GROW
BASES approach to helping young people involves a Developmental Model of Recovery, with a Prevention / Intervention emphasis. We also emphasize 12-step group involvement and Peer Mentoring in our social atmosphere within the Teen Center. We also encourage family participation in recovery and teach that relapses are normal and to be expected. As coping skills are learned, young people improve their abilities to function in day-to-day life, and BASES level of service and intensity of treatment changes.