Children’s Acute Program

The Children’s Acute Program at Parkridge Valley provides intensive, short-term, highly structured inpatient treatment for children ages 5 to 12 years, in a safe, caring environment. It is based on the fundamental needs to feel safe, interact with caring adults and experience success with peers in a school-like setting. The Children’s Acute Program emphasizes the use of social skills in a normative growth and development environment.

The program focuses on the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs of each patient. Such a holistic approach is based on respect for the dignity and rights of each individual, while striving for the highest level of care.

Children enter a program where every hour of their waking day they explore and learn about their problems and feelings. Through a variety of therapies they work with the staff to identify destructive behaviors and feelings. The children work to increase awareness, improve motivations and to develop the skills to successfully manage their mood and impulsive behaviors. They work to gain the skills, understanding and motivation to overcome those issues. Additionally, families are an integral part of the treatment process, providing a historical perspective of the child’s problem and reinforcing the positively based behavioral plans. It is essential to have the input of the family to establish meaningful treatment goals.

The Acute Children’s Program offers treatment for psychiatric and emotional problems, such as:

• Mood disorders, including childhood depression and bipolar disorder
• Attention deficit disorders
• Behavioral problems
• Impulsive/ aggressive behavior
• Disruptive disorders
• Traumatized children- disorders associated with abuse and other traumas
• Childhood psychosis
• Anxiety disorders, including OCD, social and school problems

The staff uses every opportunity to promote self-awareness and growth in every child entrusted to our care. The program’s professional staff includes: board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, master’s level family clinicians, registered nurses, activity therapists, mental health workers and, as indicated, consulting psychologists and other mental health professionals. Each child is provided individualized treatment planning under the direction of the program staff using a “Care Team” approach.

Program features include:

• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Individualized treatment with a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist
• Psychopharmacology
• Millieu-based groups focused on skill building
• Adventure-based therapies utilizing initiative games
• Prevention education classes
• Community networking for continued care

For additional information or questions concerning the Child and Adolescent services at Parkridge Valley, call RESPOND at (423) 499-2300 or 1-800-542-9600.