CHILDREN’S DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM

A full day of outpatient mental health treatment for children and adolescents to learn, build, and practice skills to use in their school and home.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Children’s Day Treatment is a non-residential program that offers a full day of outpatient mental health treatment for adolescents ages 8-14 depending on location. The program provides clinical diagnostic assessment and treatment services on a level of intensity equal to an inpatient program, but on less than a 24-hour basis. The program serves children with a mental health diagnosis who are currently having difficulty maintaining successful behavior in a regular school setting, being disruptive in the community, and/or experiencing difficulty functioning within the family. The program provides a level of care that enables stabilization of the child’s emotional and behavioral disturbance with a therapeutically supported diversion from inpatient care.

• Goal of the Program: restore a level of functioning that enables the child to successfully return to a regular school setting, re-enter the community and improve the family functioning.
• Mental health concerns addressed can include: anger management, impulse control, social skills, self-esteem and decision-making are specifically targeted for improvement.
• Treatment:  individualized and focused on the child’s response during the treatment program hours, as well as the continuity and transfer of skills at home and in the community.
• Parental Involvement: crucial to the process of reinforcing and maintaining the skills the child learns in the program. Therefore, a requirement for parents to engage in frequent communication with staff is necessary.
• Program Location/Time:  The program minimally runs for 3 hours a day, 4 days a week. The program can be provided in schools or a Community Counseling Center office.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The structure of the program provides various group therapy and psycho-educational interventions for three hours each day as well as regular individual sessions and family sessions. The remainder of the day, the child receives academic instruction by their school. Day Treatment is also provided on school breaks and through the summer.

• Accommodations:  Adolescents whose primary disturbance is conduct related or substance abuse would not be considered appropriate for this level of care or will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Summer Programming: is available to serve an increased number of youth to maintain structure and consistency for the child’s continued mental health stability.
• Program Focus: solely on mental health interventions that promote positive social skills, enhance coping skills and practice team-building skills.

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For further information, please contact Loretta Buell, MA, LPCC-S, Clinical Supervisor.