Children & Adolescent Mental Health Unit
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Our mission is to provide a safe environment for children to begin their recovery journey through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.
Our Unit
Claxton-Hepburn's Elizabeth May Duvall Children & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit is a 12 bed secure, inpatient acute psychiatric unit. We are licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health.
Our Patients
Our unit serves patients ages 5-17 years old whom are experiencing a crisis which is serious enough to influence his/her safety or the safety of others. We treat a variety of psychiatric conditions, including but not limited to, Major Depression, ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Schizophrenia.
Our Care
Our goal is to provide a safe and therapeutic environment in which your child will be evaluated, stabilized, provided with new skills and given the tools to be prepared to be discharged back into your community setting.
Upon admission to the unit we will assess and evaluate the reasoning of your child’s admission which will identify the psychiatric, physical, social, rehabilitation, and educational needs of your child. Information in the form of your child’s strengths, needs and recommendations will be gathered at time of admission.
Our team uses a team approach to develop an individualized treatment plan for your child. Throughout your child’s admission their treatment plan is reviewed and modified as needed in order to help your child achieve his/her individual goals.
Your child’s team will include the flowing:
- Psychiatrist/Psychiatric NP
- Social Worker
- Family Peer Advocate
- Occupational Therapist
- Utilization/Discharge Planner
- Family Peer Advocate
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Mental Health Workers
Learn more about our team members and their roles here. You are also a part of your child’s treatment team. Your child will be assigned to a primary Social Worker whom will be the primary contact throughout your child’s admission. Members of the treatment team will meet with your child regularly and strongly encourage parent/guardian participation. It is our goal to keep families well informed on all aspects of care.
The Sanctuary Model
Our staff and patients participate in our Sanctuary Model. Sanctuary provides
a structure which will help change behavior, and thinking. The Sanctuary
Model will help us create a SAFE and NONVIOLENT environment for patients
and staff. Learn more about the Sanctuary Model
here.
Education
Our unit utilizes LearnWell Education who will coordinate with your child’s
home school to ensure your child continues with his/her educational requirements
while admitted.
Discharge
As your child’s condition improves, we will determine if your child
has adequate services to ensure your child’s success in the community.
If your child did not previously have outpatient/community services we
will establish services for your child prior to discharge. If your child
is already established in outpatient psychiatric services, we will ensure
that your child has appropriate follow up appointments scheduled prior
to discharge. Plans for discharge will be discussed with the parent/guardian
at time of admission and throughout the course of treatment. Discharge
plans will be specific towards your child’s individual need. Your
child will be discharged home or to the most appropriate setting.
Participation
It is extremely important that family members/guardians participate in
all areas of child’s treatment. We will be focusing on your child
and your family’s strengths to understand and better treat your
child’s complaints which initiated their inpatient hospitalization.
With family/guardian participation it is better for our treatment team
to assess the particular needs of your family and make the appropriate
referrals at time of discharge.
Nursing and Mental Health staff are present and available 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. All other treatment team members have after hour voice
mails where private information can be shared if needed after normal hours of work.
