DISTURBED TEENS TO GET THERAPY, EDUCATION; HART DISTRICT SET TO OPEN CENTER IN CANYON COUNTRY.

Byline: Tere Marshall Daily News Staff Writer

Two dozen emotionally disturbed teens will be able to get therapy as well as an education when the William S. Hart Union High School District launches a landmark program Jan. 5.

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Hart district will open the Santa Clarita Child & Family Development Center at its Canyon Country headquarters. A $251,000 county grant will fund a teacher and instructional aide for each of the three classrooms.

``The program is an enormous benefit to parents of these troubled kids. They will no longer be required to transport their kids long distances to day-treatment programs in the rest of L.A. County,'' said Ari Levy, director of the center's clinic. ``Since parents need to be available for family therapy at the various locations, a facility here in Santa Clarita is extremely helpful.''

The district will transport students to and from the center, where they will receive academic instruction and vocational counseling. Each student also will get an hour of individual, group and family therapy, and individual counseling as needed, Levy said.

In addition, students can be assessed for specific problems such as attention deficit and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Crisis-intervention services will be available as well.

The program will focus on helping students at home and in school, Levy said. It is designed to serve 24 students, most of whom attend private day schools.

``It's exciting that we are finally able to provide the special services which the high school district has been requesting for a long time,'' Levy said.