Adolescents

SBHS 2 North/ 2 South Adolescent  Unit is for 12-17 year old adolescents who exhibit self-destructive behaviors and are in need of stabilization due to chronic internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Adolescents who will benefit from this program have had previous treatment failures, including outpatient and/or psychiatric hospitalizations. All diagnoses are accepted within this program. . Each adolescent will be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the program can reasonably be expected to provide both stabilization and treatment.

Principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) serve as the basis for programming on the 2 North/2 South Unit. DBT principals, as designed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D, combine elements of cognitive-behavioral techniques, relaxation, self-soothing, and enhancement of self-awareness skills. This approach emphasizes personal and situational acceptance while providing encouragement and core skill development towards a more HOPEFUL and positive life. Implementing evidence-based treatment interventions, such as DBT, along with the incorporation of the latest innovative models for difficult populations enables this program to be the best choice for those adolescents whose mental health issues put them at risk. f A successful patient learns to modulate emotions to support capacity for  making healthy choices and utilizing appropriate coping skills within  their home and community.

The specialized Adolescent Unit serves young people aged 12 to 17 who demonstrate externalizing symptoms such as impulsivity, self-destructive behaviors and are in need of stabilization due to chronic internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Patients who will benefit from this program have had previous treatment failures, including outpatient and/or psychiatric hospitalizations. All diagnoses are accepted within this program. Each adolescent will be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the program can reasonably be expected to provide both stabilization and treatment. Aggression Replacement Training (ART) serves as the primary clinical approach to treatment in this program. 

Adolescent 2E/2W adopts a hybrid Aggression Replacement Training curriculum infused with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principals and adapted to work with adolescents struggling with both depressive symptoms and aggression/irritability. Groups focus on how to understand one’s own emotions and the driving forces behind aggression and other unsafe behaviors. Groups review skills such as assertive communication of needs, problem solving, mindfulness, relationship building and bullying behavior. Groups also focus on exploring one’s values and how this intersects with their moral reasoning in decision making. Adolescents learn to understand the relationship between their emotions and behaviors and how they can utilize coping strategies to regulate. Additionally,  patients learn and practice the principle of “thinking ahead” to support healthier decision making through identification of potential outcomes of choices. 

To reach the Adolescent Units, 2 East/2 West or 2 North/2 South, please call 630-837-9000 and ask to be connected with the appropriate unit.

As you can see by our treatment chart, your child, our patient, is the center of what we do every day. Led by the psychiatrist and therapist, the team will respond to your child’s needs throughout their stay with us. Beginning with the first treatment team meeting and throughout follow-up meetings, we will constantly review your child’s progress, getting critical input from him or her on their recovery.

Discharge planning is a multi-step task and begins the moment a patient is admitted to our facility. Discharge dates are discussed with patients and their parents or guardians during the meetings/sessions/conversations with the child’s psychiatrist and/or assigned therapist.  Our goal is to ensure that our plan for your child’s smooth transition to outpatient care is finalized and clearly communicated to your child and to you prior to discharge. We also commit to ensuring all follow up appointments are scheduled. If your child does not have a therapist and/or medication prescriber who can work with them once they leave our facility, we will assist in identifying aftercare providers. If your child is prescribed medication by the hospital psychiatrist, they will leave the hospital with a prescription for up to a 30-day supply of medication. Outpatient physicians or primary mental healthcare providers assume responsibility for managing medication and prescriptions following discharge.

At the time of discharge, the unit nurse will meet with you to review your child’s medication (if prescribed) and to review the clinical aftercare plan. During your child’s time in treatment, his or her treatment team will work with your child and you to develop the clinical aftercare plan. This plan includes a safety plan, a description of triggers, warning signs, coping skills and resources to support patients in maintaining their health and safety outside of the hospital.  

We encourage feedback from patients regarding the experience they had with us. Please feel free to complete a Service Excellence Counts card and place it in the suggestion box on the day of discharge or hand it to any staff. We welcome all feedback in order to continuously improve our services.

Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System Out Patient  Service offers three levels of care and a therapeutic day school to children ages 4 through 17 including Partial Hospitalization Programming (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP), traditional Outpatient Clinic, and a Therapeutic Day School, Innovations Academy. As the premier provider of behavioral healthcare services, Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System is committed to quality, community collaboration with our patients’ families, schools, external providers, and other invested parties to develop and provide innovative therapeutic services to pave a pathway to recovery. We inspire hope and build resilience for our patients, their families, and the community to make every life worth living.

Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Adolescents serves adolescents who have been discharged from the hospital and adolescents who do not need to be hospitalized yet require intensive treatment. SBHS Partial Hospitalization Program for Adolescents includes separate programs for pre-teens, and teens and runs Monday through Friday  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.

PHP therapeutic groups build 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 for children and adolescents includes group and expressive therapy, daily education and tutoring, and general health and nutrition education. 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.

The SBHS Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) allows adolescents who do not need a full day program to attend school while continuing to receive intensive treatment Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m during the academic year and from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. during the Summer IOP, Tools for Success in School, program. 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 during an inpatient hospital stay.

SBHS Outpatient clinic’s psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses provide medication consultation and management to children, adolescents, and adults. When treating our adolescent patients, our patients’ parents also participate in this process and receive education on their child’s medication(s) and behavioral or mental health struggles. Our Outpatient Clinic team of dedicated, experienced therapists, Psychiatrists, and Advanced Practice Nurses offer individual, group, and family therapy services, designed to provide structure and education to help youth and their families manage difficult behaviors. All forms of our therapy serve to encourage development or strengthening of alternative ways to respond to stressful situations and to communicate & interact more effectively with family members, peers, and other people in the child’s community.

Innovations Academy is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and serves children with the following disabilities: emotional difficulties with moderate to severe mental illness; Intellectual Disability; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Multiple disabilities or Other Health Impairment (OHI); ; and Specific Leaning Disabilities. Innovations Academy offers two separate therapeutic programs including Elementary and Middle School Program for children in kindergarten through 8th grade and a High School  Program that offers common core standards-based coursework, daily physical education classes, and therapeutic services to meet each student’s social-emotional needs.

Innovations Academy students also benefit from individual and group counseling, psychoeducational and recreational groups, art therapy, music therapy, speech-language therapy, and occupational therapy.

Students’ home school districts typically refer them to Innovations Academy. The dedicated and professional Innovations team works diligently to partner with referring school districts to develop realistic, achievable goals that will facilitate the student’s gradual return to home school districts armed with strategies and skills needed to facilitate successful adjustment.

We would love to meet students and families who are interested in enrolling at Innovations Academy. Please feel free to complete the attached form to request a tour of Innovations Academy. You may also call 630-540-3900, extension 2774 or 630-540-3900, extension 2758 to request a tour.