FAQs

 

Visitation and Phone Contact Phone Schedules by Program
Program Unit Visitation Phone Time
Child Unit Wednesdays 6:30PM – 7:30PM 6:30PM – 8:00PM Daily
Saturdays 9:30am – 10:30am
Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) Thursdays 6:30PM – 7:30PM 6:30PM – 8:00PM Daily
Sundays 10:00am – 11:00am
Acute Treatment Unit (ATU) Tuesdays 6:30PM – 7:30PM 6:30PM – 8:00PM Weekdays
Saturdays 10:00AM-11:00AM 1:30PM – 3:00PM Weekends
Flex Unit Wednesdays 6:30PM – 7:30PM 6:30PM – 7:30PM Weekdays
Saturdays 9:30AM – 10:30AM 11:30AM – 1:00PM Weekends
Adult Unit Tuesdays 6:30PM – 7:30PM
Wednesdays 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Sundays 10:00AM – 11:00AM
10:00AM – 10:30AM Daily
1:00PM – 1:30PM Daily
7:30PM – 8:15PM
Behavior Intervention Unit (BIU) Open – visitors must call to schedule visits 6:30PM – 8:00PM

Inpatient Child FAQ’s

What is the extension for the Child Unit?Child unit direct extensions: 3732, 3715 or 3716

How long will my child be in the hospital? The typical stay is about 7-10 days; however, each individual’s length of stay will be determined on an individual basis. The decision to discharge will be made by the treatment team and will be based on your child’s progress, medication stabilization, and the frequency and intensity of problem behaviors.

What do they need to have with them while they are hospitalized? We recommend that you provide your child with 2 sets of clothing, 1 set of pajamas and 1 pair of shoes. Also, please make sure clothing is comfortable. Patient’s initials will be written on their clothes with a sharpie, so please consider this when choosing which clothes to provide. SBHS will provide socks and hygienic supplies. We have limited space for housing clothing and also want to reduce the likelihood of lost belongings. Therefore, please limit the amount of clothes and items you provide for your child’s stay. We wash patient clothing every morning and every night. If your child has a favorite item or one that makes him/her feel secure, such as a stuffed animal, you may provide this as well. The item will be kept either in the belongings room or in your child’s bedroom. However, no blankets, pillows, or bedding items can be brought onto the unit from home.

What type of treatment will my child receive? Each individual will be assigned an individual psychologist, therapist, or social worker. Your child will be provided individual, group, family, and expressive therapy during their hospitalization designed to help your child stabilize and safely return to your care. Your child will receive group treatment daily and be seen by their therapist individually or in family therapy 3 times a week while with us. Your child will also be assigned a psychiatrist who will see your child regularly and suggest medications as needed to help address the problems that brought your child to us.

How will I know what is being done in therapy? Each child has their own individualized treatment plan, developed by the therapist with input from the treatment team, the patient and you, the parents. The treatment plan identifies the goals for the patient while they are here and assigns responsibility to the different treatment team members for what they will do to help you and your child achieve their goals. The assigned therapist will review this plan with you to ensure you are in agreement and understand all that is happening with treatment.

How soon can I expect to be contacted by my child’s therapist? The clinician assigned to your child will attempt to contact you as soon as possible. If your child is admitted over the weekend attempts at contact should be made by the end of the day Monday. If you have any concerns over the weekend, there are staff and nurses on duty 24 hours/day who you may speak to. We encourage you to contact the unit regarding your child. The staff working will be able to provide general information including, eating, sleeping, and general behavioral information. If your child is admitted during the week, the therapist will attempt to contact you by the end of business hours on the day following your child’s date of admission. Please know your child’s assigned therapist and psychiatrist will communicate with you as frequently as possible.

Treatment TeamsTreatment teams consist of your child’s therapist, doctor, a representative from the nursing staff and someone to help send information to your insurance provider. The treatment teams meet 2-3 times a week. Typically we don’t involve outside participants (parents, schools etc) but instead have the therapist keep you updated on what was discussed in the treatment teams. If you have questions about what was discussed in the treatment teams, please consult with your child’s therapist.

What is involved in family therapy? The clinician assigned to your child will afford you the opportunity to engage in family therapy during your child’s hospitalization. The specific content, focus, and frequency of family sessions will be individualized according to the needs of the patient but should occur at least once per week of hospitalization. Family sessions may involve traditional family therapy, engagement in activities as a family that promotes healthy attachment or family dynamics, or parent training/psychoeducation. A parent training session may be conducted without the patient between the assigned clinician and parent/guardian if deemed appropriate. These types of sessions are designed to provide parents/guardians with strategies or tips that may help your child be successful upon discharge.

What if I am unable to physically come in for family therapy? Family therapy can be conducted via phone conference if desired. However, whenever possible we encourage face to face contact with your child through visitation and family therapy.

How will my child’s medications be managed and modified? Each individual is assigned a psychiatrist to monitor and modify medications. Your verbal consent will be required before a new medication is started. If you would also like to be notified when the dosage of the current medication is changed please communicate this at time of admission or to the doctor or nurse. A nurse will be present on the unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to monitor your child’s response to medications. They can also answer any questions you may have about the medication or pass those questions on to your child’s psychiatrist.

What will my child do all day? The Child Unit program is skill-based behavioral program designed to decrease problematic behaviors such as emotional dysregulation, aggression, and self-injury and increase positive behaviors. We endeavor to teach your child skills that will teach them to manage their emotions and behaviors so that they may successfully and safely function after discharging home. Therefore, each individual is encouraged to participate in a structured daily schedule that includes groups on social skills, safe choices/anger management, impulse control, coping skills, self-esteem, healthy expression of feelings, and positive family dynamics. Your child will also engage in art and music groups; and recreational activities.

What is a patient code? The patient code is a number you are given once your child is admitted that you will give each time you call to speak to your child or the treatment team. The code is also required when you or other family members visit. This is done for both safety and privacy reasons.

When can I call and speak with my child? We have designated phone call times each evening from 6:30-7:30 pm. It is sometimes difficult to get all the children time to make phone calls during this hour. If you have a child who is quick with their hygiene and morning routines, we will let those children make calls in the morning as instead of at night. These phone calls involve the children calling out rather than families calling in. Additionally, these phone calls are not lengthy in order to allow for participation in programming that occurs throughout the day. Please feel free to call the unit at any time to request information about how your child is doing or with any questions or concerns.

When can I visit? On the Child Unit, we have the following scheduled visitation hours:
Wednesdays from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
Saturdays from 9:30 Am-10:30 AM.
Visitation is not a family therapy session, but rather time for you to spend with your child as a family. We understand it may be difficult to make visitation hours and that twice a week may not be as frequent as you would like to visit. However, as a hospital we want to ensure we have the staffing and protocols in place to maintain the safety of all the patients on all the units, all of their families, and our staff. Therefore, we encourage families to visit during designated visitation hours. If you have a concern regarding visitation times or frequency, please communicate this to the clinician assigned to your child and we will address your needs.

What items can I bring when I visit? Items that are permitted during visits include those that have been determined to be safe for your child to have on the unit. This may include games, stuffed animals, clothing, and books. However, we have various art and recreational materials on the unit that we provide to your child. We do prefer to minimize how much additional materials are brought on to the unit for safety reasons. If you have additional items you would like to bring your child, please consult with the clinician assigned to your child to assess for appropriateness and safety.

What items are not permitted during visitation times?Cameras and cell phones are not permitted during visits. Additionally, we ask you keep backpacks and purses in the car. This is to protect your child as well as the other patients on the unit. You may bring food for your child as long as it is factory sealed. For example, you may bring an unopened bag of flaming hot Cheetos, you may not bring McDonalds or homemade cookies. Any food brought in must be eaten or taken out with you at the end of visitation. We cannot store food to give to patients later.

What if my child has special dietary needs?Please communicate dietary concerns with the nursing staff. They will consult with our dietitian/nutritionist to make sure we meet your child’s needs, prevent exposure to foods they are allergic to and , when possible, observe important cultural and religious dietary practices.

What does my child’s room look like? The patient rooms include a bed, shelving, a desk, and a bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. The bathrooms are locked at all times and require a staff to enter in order to ensure your child’s safety. Some patients will share a room with another patient while others will have their own room. Whether your child has a roommate or not is determined based on availability and the individual needs of each patient.

Contacting Outside Providers There may be points in time when staff at the hospital ask for permission to speak to outside individuals such as outside therapists, case workers, school social workers, or teachers. We do this to ensure that your child has the support they need both while they are with us and after discharging from the hospital. While it is a parent’s right to refuse these consents, doing so does limit our ability to ensure the best plan is in place for your child.

Homework/School Your child’s education is important to us. While we do not have formal schooling (every child comes from a different school and is learning different material at different levels) they have school time where they are with a certified educator helping them keep up with school work that we can obtain from their home school. If we are unable to have contact with the home school, children are provided age appropriate school work to complete during school time.

How is discharged decided? Discharge (the day your child goes home) is decided based on the individual needs and problems of your child. Because we are an inpatient facility, our focus is on stabilization and safety. Once the treatment team has identified your child is no longer a risk to themselves and/or to others and that they have the skills to keep themselves safe after leaving the hospital, discharge will be scheduled. There is no set formula for the number of days this will take. Continue to have regular contact with your child’s therapist to know what the status of your child’s discharge is.

What happens the day of discharge? On the day of discharge, you and your child will meet with a member of our nursing staff to review important information. This includes medication and directions for taking medication, a plan to continue to practice the skills learned in therapy and to maintain safety in the home and scheduled appointments to keep for aftercare. Unless otherwise scheduled with your therapist, there is no family therapy session on the day of discharge.

What kind of outpatient support will I receive once my child is discharged? You will work with your child’s assigned clinician to set up aftercare treatment following discharge. This may include referral to partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, traditional outpatient therapies, community agencies, and psychiatric aftercare. Because some appointments take a while to schedule, we recommend you begin the discussion of aftercare for your child with the therapist right away.

Who can I contact with other questions? You can contact your child’s assigned therapist directly with questions. Call the main number if you do not have the therapist’s name or extension.

Outpatient Related FAQs

My child’s physician recommended that we see a psychiatrist for consultation. She thinks my child might benefit from medication. How can I request an appointment?Individuals and families who do not need inpatient or partial hospitalization level of care, but rather are in need of traditional outpatient level of care, can request an intake appointment with our Outpatient Clinic Intake team. Traditional outpatient level of care is appropriate for individuals who are seeking weekly individual, group, or family therapy
or medication consultation and management services.” Please submit the following form to request an Outpatient Intake appointment for or medication consultation and management services.” Please submit the following form to request an Outpatient Intake appointment or call the SBHS Outpatient Clinic at (630) 540-3924.”

What happens after my child is discharged from the hospital?SBHS offers continued programming that builds upon skills and strategies children and adolescents lean when they are in the hospital. Outpatient service care promotes continued recovery and skill building to manage the struggles that led our patients’ families to seek treatment, care, and support. SBHS Outpatient Service includes Partial Hospitalization Programming (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP), traditional Outpatient Clinic, and a Therapeutic Day School, Innovations Academy.

What is Partial Hospitalization Programming? Where, and what days and time is it held?The Partial Hospitalization Program is designed for individuals between the ages of 4 and 17 who are experiencing emotional or behavioral problems. The level of treatment within the Partial Hospitalization Program provides many of the same therapy disciplines and educational components as a traditional inpatient program, and allows the individual to continue treatment while building, practicing, and strengthening new skills in their family and community environments. Partial Hospitalization Program provides intensive and structured treatment during the transition from an inpatient treatment program to home and school, or when treatment that is more intensive than traditional outpatient therapy is not enough to be effective.

Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) includes separate programs for tots, children, and adolescents. PHP is held on the SBHS campus in the John Costigan Center building. PHP is held five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. SBHS PHP allows participants to keep up with school work during academic time with the assistance of our licensed teacher. Therapeutic groups builds communication skills, conflict resolution skills, anger management skills, emotional regulation skills, and general coping skills to assist participants in daily life at home, school, and in their communities. PHP programming can include group and expressive therapy, daily education and tutoring, health and nutrition education, and substance use treatment and education for adolescents. Our PHP psychiatrist and/or Advanced Practice Nurse provide medication consultation and management to PHP participants. PHP participants also receive a light breakfast and lunch during the programming day.

My child needs intensive therapy and also needs to see a psychiatrist. Do you have a program that would help her? Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) includes separate programs for tots, children, and adolescents. The PHP team includes a psychiatrist and Advanced Practice Nurse who provide medication consultation and management to all PHP participants. Please see the Partial Hospitalization Program page for detail on PHP programming.

(link to PHP)

What is Intensive Outpatient Programming? Where is it held and when? The SBHS Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) allows children and adolescents who do not need a full day program to attend school while continuing to receive intensive treatment in the John Costigan Building on the SBHS campus Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the school year and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. during summer break. IOP is group based and is designed to strengthen and reinforce communication skills, conflict resolution skills, anger management skills, emotional regulation skills, and general coping skills learned in therapy, PHP, or in the hospital. Treatment incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Expressive (Art) Therapy, and psychoeducation. Healthy leisure groups foster positive interaction among peers and build or improve social skills needed to function well and to succeed at home and at school.

THE SBHS Intensive Outpatient Program serves as a transitional step between intensive programming and return to school, as it allows children and teens to return to their home and school environments during the day, while continuing to receive intensive treatment that supports successful transition and return to important aspects of each participant’s daily life. This is particularly important for participants who struggle at school and at home, as attending IOP after school affords opportunity to apply new skills to daily interaction in the participant’s natural environments (school or home), then to attend IOP to discuss their experiences of using new skills, to evaluate their effectiveness, to process the related experiences, and to role play to practice and refine skills. This allows participants to build confidence in their abilities to incorporate skills learned in treatment to their actual daily interactions and experiences.

Programming includes a specialized Intensive Outpatient Program for adolescents who demonstrate significant drug or alcohol use. This program runs Monday through, Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the John Costigan Building on the SBHS campus.

My child has trouble making friends and seems very shy around other children. What kind of therapy would be best for him? Based on information provided, it appears your child would benefit from group programming to provide him with opportunity to learn skills he needs to meet new people and to develop friendships. All children who come to SBHS for treatment receive and Intake assessment so that we can make appropriate recommendations for treatment. Please call the SBHS Outpatient Clinic at (630) 540-3924 to request an Intake appointment and refer to our Outpatient Clinic page to learn more about the groups we offer to children, adolescents, and their parents.