Intensive Outpatient Program
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at CHKD provides mental health services to children and adolescents ages 13-17 who require less structure than our Acute Inpatient or Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) but can benefit from a higher level of care than outpatient care alone.
About Our Intensive Outpatient Program
CHKD’s Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to provide evidence-based treatment to children and teens whose mental health conditions or behavioral needs extend beyond weekly outpatient therapy sessions and would benefit from a structured after-school mental health program. The goal of the program is to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms by providing patients with tools to help manage and regulate their emotions. The program includes individual and group therapies, skills building, family engagement, and medication support when appropriate. A dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) curriculum is used. Upon successful completion of the program our intention is to transition patients back to care as usual with better skills in their toolkit, an understanding of how to take charge of their emotions, and to encourage health, healing, and hope.
What to Expect
Parents and legal guardians are invited to participate at every step from intake to discharge. You are encouraged to provide feedback and help to identify and prioritize goals for treatment plans as well as desired resources for discharge planning. Families are encouraged to participate in the parent group hosted once a week by one of our therapists. During this group, parents and guardians will have opportunities to learn about the programming covered during the week and gain mutual support from others in the program.
IOP groups meet three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Parent group will meet at 5 p.m.
Summer Program Hours
During the summer, the program meets Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and parent group will meet at 4:30 p.m.
Your child will meet individually with a therapist once a week. Individual therapy during IOP will focus on treatment goals developed collaboratively by the treatment team, including your child and family.
Medication management is included in the IOP program. Details will be discussed during the initial psychiatric intake during the first day of the program.
Families are encouraged to engage with the treatment team to provide updates and ask questions. On Thursday’s, parents will have the opportunity to participate in parent group. During the last hour on Thursday, patients will come to parent group to share what they have learned during the week and share in a family enrichment activity together.
Research shows that mental health treatment is more effective when therapy skills are regularly practiced outside the therapy setting. All IOP participants will have opportunities at home to practice the skills learned in group and to reflect on how those skills work for them outside of IOP.
Daily snacks are provided during IOP groups. Special dietary needs should be communicated with your child’s treatment team. Participants may bring their own meals to the group to eat during scheduled programming breaks.
Referral Process
Patients and families are referred to IOP by a medical or mental health provider. IOP may be recommended in response to escalating mental health needs. This is often in response to a sudden increase in mental health symptoms, difficulties maintaining previous functioning, or an emerging safety concern. Alternatively, IOP may also be recommended as a step-down from residential, acute hospital-based programs or partial hospitalization programs.
A patient may be considered appropriate for a referral to IOP if they:
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Have experienced an increase in their mental health symptoms or a decrease in their functioning as a result of their mental health diagnosis.
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May benefit from multidisciplinary interventions.
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Are able to maintain safety at home and in the community or have adequate supports to maintain safety and structure outside of scheduled program hours.
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Have recently experienced hospitalization for mental health needs.
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Need more support than traditional outpatient therapy.
IOP may not be an appropriate option if the patient:
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Is not medically stable.
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Displays behaviors that require constant supervision.
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Is unable to maintain safety outside of program hours.
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Has a mental health or medical diagnosis for which group treatment is not indicated.
If our intensive outpatient program is deemed appropriate for your child, you will be contacted to schedule an IOP intake session. During this session, you and your child will meet with a treatment team member to learn about program expectations and responsibilities.
Arriving at CHKD's Health Center at Landstown
Parking is available onsite. We ask that patients leave large bags or backpacks with their parents or guardians. Parents/guardians should check their child in at the front desk and proceed to the waiting room until a mental health coach greets all participants in the lobby. Please note: Our security procedures require the use of a metal detecting wand prior to entering the treatment area for all group sessions.
Contact Us
To contact our Intensive Outpatient Program, please call (757) 668-4073 or email at MentalHealth@CHKD.org.