North Dakota Launches First Teen Addiction Recovery Program

The Village Family Service Center opens an intensive outpatient program for teens aged 14-17 across the state.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:36am

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The Village Family Service Center in Fargo, North Dakota has launched the state's first teen addiction recovery program, an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adolescents aged 14 to 17 in Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, and Devils Lake. The program focuses on prevention, education, and self-reflection, with families also invited to participate. The program was created with the help of a Health Innovation Grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota's Caring Foundation.

Why it matters

Adolescent substance abuse is a growing concern in North Dakota, but there has been a lack of specialized treatment programs tailored to the unique needs of teens. This new IOP aims to fill that gap and provide critical resources and support for young people struggling with addiction across the state.

The details

The teen IOP program at the Village Family Service Center allows a maximum of 12 participants at a time, though more teens are requesting to join. Teens in the program meet in a group setting to focus on prevention, education, and self-reflection. Families are also invited to work alongside the teens, both during the program and at home with supplemental materials.

  • The Village Family Service Center launched the new teen addiction recovery program in March 2026.

The players

The Village Family Service Center

A nonprofit organization that provides mental health, addiction, and family services in North Dakota.

Tonya Sorenson

Clinical Supervisor of the First Step Recovery Program at the Village Family Service Center.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation

A nonprofit foundation that provided a Health Innovation Grant to help launch the teen addiction recovery program.

Amber Blomberg

Executive Director of the Caring Foundation for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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What they’re saying

“We've noticed there's been a huge need for adolescent substance use in the Fargo-Moorhead area. There hasn't been a program for several years. So, we were able to establish an adolescent IOP program to help our youth in the community.”

— Tonya Sorenson, Clinical Supervisor of First Step Recovery Program at Village Family Service Center

“Adolescents program differently than adults. Their brains are still developing, and they have different needs where they're at in life. So, it was really important to have a program that was specific just for teens to be able to address their substance use.”

— Tonya Sorenson, Clinical Supervisor of First Step Recovery Program at Village Family Service Center

“When the Village brought forth this idea of launching this adolescent intensive outpatient program, we just thought it was a really great opportunity for not only people here in Fargo, but also across the state, with their virtual component to be able to infuse more of those resources to get people the help that they may need.”

— Amber Blomberg, Executive Director of the Caring Foundation for BCBSND

What’s next

The program is currently accepting new teen participants, with plans to potentially expand capacity if demand continues to grow.

The takeaway

This new teen addiction recovery program in North Dakota represents a critical step in addressing the state's substance abuse challenges among young people. By providing specialized, evidence-based treatment tailored to the unique needs of adolescents, the Village Family Service Center and its partners aim to give teens the support they need to overcome addiction and build a healthier future.