Children’s Subacute Residential Program

The Children’s Subacute Residential Program at Parkridge Valley provides a highly structured, safe and caring environment. It is designed to help children ages 5 to 12 years, who are having emotional/ behavioral problems and are not successful in their current environment of school and home. The program works with the children to increase their awareness of destructive behaviors and how these behaviors impact their choices in life, family and school.

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 who participate in the subacute residential program follow a schedule where every hour of their waking day they explore and learn about their problems. Using a cognitive behavioral approach they work with the staff to identify their destructive behavioral patterns and practice new, more adaptive patterns. The children work to increase awareness, improve motivation and to develop the skills to successfully manage their mood and impulsive behaviors. 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 Children’s Subacute Residential Program offers treatment for psychiatric and emotional problems:

• Mood Disorders- including childhood depression and bipolar disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder with impulsivity
• Anxiety Disorders- including OCD, social and school phobias
• Disruptive Disorders
• Traumatized Children- disorders associated with abuse and other traumas
• Academic Problems
• Behavioral Problems
• Impulsive/ aggressive behavior
• Childhood Psychosis

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, certified teachers 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 classes and groups focused on skill building
• Valley Academy- a state-certified school on campus
• Adventure-based therapies utilizing initiative games
• Substance abuse prevention education as indicated
• Intensive case review
• 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.