Emergency Department or other location for a screening . They may recommend calling a therapist or Psychiatrist .
» If the officer feels your child is of danger to him / herself or others , and could also have a mental illness , they will institute the Baker Act and take your child to Behavioral Services or to the Emergency Department .
» Parents , it is extremely important you follow your child in a vehicle as the law states that the officer is only able to transport your child in their car . Your child may be handcuffed , however this is not mandatory but , at the discretion of the officer . The first responder has to do what is necessary for the safety of everyone involved . We are telling you this not to scare you or upset you , but to prepare you .
» Once in custody , your child will go through a screening process with a Registered Nurse or Masters Level Prepared Therapist . They will interview you together and then individually to assess the situation . You will be asked to sign consent forms on behalf of your child as he / she is a minor and cannot consent to their own form of treatment . It is imperative that you are there with your child to relay any and all information to the screeners . The more information they have to better understand your child the better they can assess what services may be required .
» Information such as medications they are on , whether they are currently receiving services from a therapist / psychiatrist or even triggers that bring on certain behaviors will be collected . As stated previously , the psychiatrist will determine the best course of action for your child which could mean that they need to be admitted to an Inpatient Program , participation in Outpatient Services may be suggested , they may be referred to a Day Treatment Program or the Baker Act may be lifted entirely .
What if my child is at school and their behavior is radical ?
» If a child is at school and is posing a threat to him / herself or others , the school will notify the legal guardian of the situation . For the safety of the child and all involved , the school does have the right to call 911 and request that the child receive an emergency evaluation under the Baker Act . There are specific criteria that need to be met before it is determined if the child can be Baker Acted , such as having a mental illness and if the child is considered a harm to him / herself or others . The Baker Act can be initiated by law enforcement , physicians , psychiatric nurse practitioners and licensed therapist / counselors .
What if I fear that my child may hurt him / herself or others and this is outside of the screening hours ?
» A child will never be turned away . If you call 911 outside of the screening hours of 8:00 am - 8:00 pm , and it is determined that your child needs immediate intervention , the first responder will take your child to the Community Emergency Department . Your child will be admitted and remain at the hospital until the screeners and Psychiatrists are available for assessing the situation .
» During this process it is recommended to stay with your child as they are a minor and cannot consent to treatment .
What Outpatient Services are available for my child my child ?
Every child and situation is different and the recommended treatment will be directly aligned with your child ’ s needs . Once your child has completed the screening process , and the psychiatrist determines that your child does not meet the requirements for an Inpatient Program , they could suggest any of the following Outpatient Services :
» Evaluate the need for medication
» Determine if he / she needs to continue the medication they are already on
» Discuss Therapy Services
» Offer Case Management Services that can be provided in the home
» Attend Outpatient Therapy Groups
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