The Acute Children's 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 need to feel safe, interact with caring adults and experience success with peers in a school-like setting. The Acute Children's 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 in which every hour of their waking day is spent exploring and learning about their problems and feelings. Our staff are highly skilled in the full spectrum of therapies and use these different approaches to help children identify destructive behaviors and feelings. Under our providers’ careful supervision, children work toward increasing awareness, improving motivations and developing the skills to successfully manage their mood and impulsive behaviors. The program is tailored to help children gain the skills, understanding and motivation to overcome their issues.
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:
- Anxiety disorders, including OCD, social and school problems
- Attention deficit disorders
- Behavioral problems
- Childhood psychosis
- Disorders associated with abuse and other traumas
- Disruptive disorders
- Impulsive/aggressive behavior
- Mood disorders, including childhood depression and bipolar disorder
Our staff uses every opportunity to promote self-awareness and growth in children entrusted to our care. The program's skilled providers are comprised of board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists; master's-level family clinicians; registered nurses; activity therapists; mental health workers; and, if necessary, consulting psychologists and other mental health professionals. Each child is provided individualized treatment planning under the direction of the program’s staff, who use a care-team approach.
For additional information, please call (423) 499-2300 or (800) 542-9600.
