The new service at Virginia Treatment Center for Children offers an intermediate step between hospital and home.
Demand for pediatric mental health care remains high, but the needs cannot be met with a one-size-fits-all approach. CHoR leaders cut the ribbon today on the Partial Hospitalization Program, offering a new level of care at Virginia Treatment Center for Children on our Northside Campus.
The program is a middle ground between an inpatient psychiatric setting and traditional outpatient mental health care, providing children and teens a balance of intensive daily therapy and the opportunity to return home each evening.
“Our teams have poured into this program, bringing dedicated new providers on board, developing protocols and procedures, and preparing the safe, supportive space,” said Elias Neujahr, CHoR president. “We are ready to welcome our first group of patients. That’s what this work has been about all along – the kids and families whose lives can be changed and improved.”
The 10-day program is designed for youth ages 6-17 who are experiencing significant emotional, behavioral or social distress, but who do not pose an immediate safety risk. They will come to the PHP from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Monday through Friday, similar to a familiar school schedule. Pediatric mental health professionals will guide them through individual, group and family sessions to build coping, communication and problem-solving skills.
Watch the Partial Hospitalization Program ribbon-cutting at VTCC
Personalized mental health care for kids
For some patients, the PHP will be the next step after discharge from the hospital, while others may be referred from shorter-duration outpatient appointments to this more intensive and coordinated treatment environment. In all cases, patients and care teams will set and work toward goals, using treatment approaches that align with unique personal and family needs.
“Sometimes, the hospital is the best place for a child or teen facing mental health struggles, particularly when there is a concern of them hurting themselves or others. As soon as they’re stabilized, we want them to be with their families and in their comfort zones,” said Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D., chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at CHoR. “The PHP format allows them to practice the skills they’re building in the program in their real-life daily environments.”