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
» » Reconnect with an existing outside provider and
schedule follow up appointment
What can I expect if my child is admitted to the
Inpatient Program?
If your child is admitted an Inpatient Program, the
first process is to ensure that they do not have any
harmful items with them. Personal belongings, such as
jewelry, cell phones, wallets and unsafe clothing will be
returned to the parents or be safely stored in a locked
area on the unit. A registered nurse will then meet
with your child and perform an assessment to gather
additional information focused on their medical and
mental health. Within the first 24-hours of admission,
there is a Family Therapy Session and the typical daily
routine consists of the children attending classes based
on the Volusia County School System, participation
in recreational therapy, group therapy sessions and
individual therapy sessions.
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Your child will work on daily goals that have been
identified and incorporated into their individualized
master treatment plan. Registered Nurses and Mental
Health Techs are on-site 24-hours a day so all children
are constantly being monitored. Visitation is a few
hours in the evening. As part of the therapeutic
program, your child is also seen daily by a psychiatrist
to evaluate how your child is progressing and to
determine when they are ready to be discharged.
When will my child be discharged?
Each child comes to an inpatient program for different
reasons, which is why programs have individualized
master treatment plans that identify the issues they
face. There are specific goals that the child will need
to work on and achieve on a daily basis while they
are a patient. Based on the daily meetings with the
psychiatrist, it will be determined when the child has
met all goals and is ready to be discharged. Upon
discharge, the psychiatrist will recommend follow up
instructions to ensure success outside of the facility
walls. This can range from being seen by a psychiatrist
at the facility, or with another one they have an
existing relationship with, and/or outpatient services
including therapy and case management. If they are
leaving inpatient care and are on medication, they
will be required to see a psychiatrist within 30 days of
discharge.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if my child is just going through a phase or
needs professional help?
While it is natural for children to go through phases
where their behaviors can be more challenging, there
are some common indicators that a child may need
professional help. Behavioral Services has professionally
trained staff that can screen your child to determine
if services are needed. Some common indicators they
look for are disturbed sleep patterns, poor academic
performance, withdrawal from social situations, and
unsafe behaviors such as recreational
drug use or becoming violent when
emotionally overwhelmed. Some children
are better at hiding their symptoms than
others, so it is always wise to have a
local non-profit bringing
professional assessment if you have any
mind-body wellness to children
concerns.
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If my child receives mental health services,
does the school have to know?
You do not have to share this information
with your child’s school. Mental Health
Services fall under the category of
Protected Health Information.
S T. J O H N S H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S M A G A Z I N E | 29