“Even though we are just a month out of our experience with KidsPeace’s partial hospitalization program in Bethlehem, I feel beyond grateful for the team there. My 10-year-old was struggling; he had previously been through various programs and nothing was working. At KidsPeace Bethlehem the process started with Ms. Adrienne, who worked hard to get my son admitted as quickly as possible. She did a thorough intake and ensured we’d be in good hands and she was right. My son was assigned to Ms. Jessica and Mr. Kyle for therapy and they were just who he needed. Both avid Harry Potter fans allowed my son to feel comfortable. He worked hard in the program and starting as early as intake day was reciting what he was learning and practicing at home. Adjustments needed to be made at home, as after his psych evaluation his diagnoses had changed. The in-depth psych eval provided myself as a parent the opportunity to learn about what my son struggles with daily and make appropriate changes at home to help him succeed…”
— Mother of client in KidsPeace APHP, Bethlehem, PA
Among the offerings of KidsPeace’s Continuum of Care, the Acute Partial Hospitalization Program (APHP) is perhaps less known than other programs. Nonetheless, those who are aware of the program recognize the incredible impact it has had on children and families throughout the community.
KidsPeace APHP is located with additional community-based programs within the facilities of the organization’s Broadway Campus in Bethlehem, PA.* With a capacity of 10-15 clients at a time, this program is a stabilization level of care that helps clients transition out of inpatient facilities and/or potentially avoid inpatient placement.
APHP treats a variety of mental health diagnoses including but not limited to ADHD, Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as Adjustment Disorders. The primary goal of APHP is to help clients balance symptoms and provide resources for continued treatment.
The amazing aspect of this program is the clients receive intense treatment without having to be removed from their home to stay in a facility such as a hospital or residential setting. There is also flexibility in the program to allow clients to slowly transition back to school if needed. This flexibility helps provide support to the client in order for them to achieve long-term success.
Initial referrals for APHP can be placed by anyone. This includes parents, school staff, outpatient therapists, psychiatrists, and emergency room crisis staff. The referral process is unique in that it allows those with both personal and professional observations of a client to be able to set up services.
After an initial biopsychosocial assessment, clients begin the partial program in a classroom setting. Throughout their stay, they are surrounded by peers who are often struggling with the same difficulties. Each day, clients focus on a particular topic in therapeutic groups run by bachelor’s level staff; examples include coping skills, anger management, depression, anxiety, family, and safety. APHP utilizes reading, writing, worksheets, art projects and audio/video media within this curriculum. Additionally, program clinicians run therapeutic groups that expand upon daily topics three times per week.
Program clinicians also provide individual therapy sessions 1-2 times per week, where treatment becomes even more personalized and clients can work individually on their mental health needs. During these sessions, clinicians work with clients to learn about their personal preferences. This can include favorite activities, characters, TV shows, etc. Preferences are then used to drive the therapeutic process. For example, the parent mentioned above was an avid Harry Potter fan; classroom staff in conjunction with this client’s clinician used this information first to help the client first feel comfortable and second, to create change. Staff developed a Harry Potter-themed behavior chart, using dialogue and characters from the movie. This chart became both the beginning of the client’s stabilization and the basis for sustained motivation and transformation.
An accurate diagnosis is key to the success of any mental health treatment; thus psychiatric evaluations and medication management are another element of APHP. Each client admitted receives an initial psychiatric evaluation by a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. This evaluation provides clients and families with applicable diagnostic information as well as a prescription for medications, should they be warranted. After this initial evaluation, clients are seen weekly for medication management appointments and provided with aftercare prescriptions upon discharge.
Another important piece of APHP is family therapy. While attending the program, clients have two family therapy sessions. These sessions can include anyone who the client identifies as a family member, with the goal of understanding the client’s needs, how to help them, and how the family unit can help facilitate that process. APHP can also recommend, refer, and implement family-based aftercare services. This is a service that continues within the client’s home and builds upon the work done in family therapy in the partial program. Referrals to a school based partial program can also be coordinated with the client’s home school district.
The average length of stay for an APHP client is two weeks or ten business days. A lot is accomplished during this time, at a pace that encourages self-motivation and family participation. Once a client completes APHP, they are discharged to a less intensive level of care. Typical discharge recommendations include outpatient therapy, outpatient medication management, family-based services, multi-systemic therapy, and school-based partial hospitalization. The treatment team considers everyone involved in the client’s life when making discharge recommendations. In addition to parents and caregivers, input is often taken from current outpatient providers, guidance counselors, and primary care physicians.
“A month out and I feel like I have my son back, his brilliant, goofy, and kind self. I feel like thank you’s are not enough, this program truly made a vast impact for my son, me, and my family.”
*In addition to the programming at the Broadway Campus site in Bethlehem, KidsPeace also provides APHP services at its Berks County facility in Temple, PA. For more information about the programs, visit www.kidspeace.org/partial-hospitalization-programs
