California Teen Center has expanded its teen virtual intensive outpatient program (vIOP), providing structured, family-centered mental health support for adolescents ages 12-17 experiencing school avoidance and other behavioral health challenges. Available statewide, the evidence-based program helps families access a higher level of care while allowing teens to remain connected to home, school, and daily life through secure virtual treatment.
More information is available at https://teencenter.org/
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly one in four public schools reported that student mental health concerns had a severe negative impact on learning during the 2023-24 school year. California Teen Center expanded its virtual IOP to help families access structured adolescent mental health treatment when school avoidance, anxiety, depression, trauma, or other challenges make consistent attendance and daily functioning increasingly difficult.
"School avoidance is often a sign that a teen needs additional support rather than simply more encouragement to attend class," a spokesperson for California Teen Center said. "Our virtual IOP allows families across California to access evidence-based care while helping teens maintain important connections with their education and home environment whenever clinically appropriate."
The virtual IOP includes individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, psychiatric oversight, academic coordination, and evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Designed for teens who need more support than traditional weekly therapy but may not require inpatient care, the program provides structured treatment through secure online sessions that reduce travel barriers for families throughout California.
California Teen Center is licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and accredited by The Joint Commission. In addition to its statewide virtual IOP, the center provides teen intensive outpatient programs, a partial hospitalization program (PHP/Day program), outpatient therapy, and step-down support from its Yuba City location. The organization also works with major insurance providers, including Anthem, Blue Shield of California, Carelon, and Aetna, and offers insurance benefits verification to help families better understand their coverage options.
Parents interested in learning more about the Virtual IOP or other adolescent mental health services can visit https://teencenter.org/