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Child and Adolescent Acute Crisis Stabilization

Child and Adolescent Acute Crisis Stabilization

Acute Stabilization

For children or teens requiring psychiatric crisis stabilization, Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center provides an acute hospitalization program. The program is designed for children and teens, ages 4 to 18, who exhibit high-risk behaviors or other psychiatric conditions that impede them from being safely maintained in a home or school environment, including:

  • Suicidal or self-destructive behavior or threats
  • Prolonged sadness or excessive crying
  • Changes in sleeping or eating habits
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Withdrawal from family or friends
  • Hyperactivity
  • Running away
  • Victim of abuse or in a traumatic situation

Assessment and Treatment Services

Patients receive the following assessment and treatment services in this program for children and teens ages 4 to 18:

Standard Evaluation and Assessment Services

  • Psychosocial history and assessment
  • Physical examination
  • Nursing assessment
  • Mental status exam
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Medication management
  • Nutrition, hearing and vision screenings

When medically indicated, additional services may be offered:

  • Psychological, psycho-educational
  • Lab services and other specialized medical testing
  • Drug detection urinalysis
  • Specialized assessment by dietitian
  • Access to off-site emergency medical evaluation

Standard Treatment Services

  • Individual, group and family psychotherapy
  • Group psychoeducation including focus development on social, communication and daily living skills, medication education
  • Education regarding mental illness and mental health treatment
  • Daily goal setting and goal review groups
  • Medication administration and management (when appropriate)
  • Milieu treatment/therapeutic environment to include positive reinforcement programs/daily reinforcing event
  • Case management including linkage with outpatient services and other discharge planning

Laurel Oaks makes every attempt to help patients transition back to their normal academic schedule. The patient will remain enrolled in their home school while they are in our program and may complete homework assignments if brought in by the school or family. Contact us today to make a referral or schedule an assessment.

It’s Never Too Late, Call Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center

Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center in Dothan, Alabama schedules no-cost, confidential assessments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a child or teen you know may be in need of treatment at a psychiatric hospital and residential treatment center, please call us today at 334-794-7373.