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Commissioner Michael F. Hogan, PhD
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

The Intensive Day Treatment Program

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Partial Hospitalization for Children and Adolescents

The Intensive Day Treatment Program

The Intensive Day Treatment Program is a unique outpatient program for children and adolescents with serious emotional and psychiatric difficulties. This program offers many of the benefits of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, but it does so in a nonresidential environment. The program operates as a Partial Hospitalization Program and, as such, is designed for youngsters who without this program would likely require treatment in an inpatient environment. The program allows a maximum stay of 30 days per episode of treatment.

Features of the Intensive Day Treatment Program include:

Population Served By Intensive Day Treatment Program

The Intensive Day Treatment Program serves children and adolescents from the ages of 6 through 17 who are residents of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Youngsters admitted to the program are those that have serious emotional or behavioral difficulties and would benefit from a short-term, service intensive program. Those admitted generally have been hospitalized on inpatient psychiatric units or are at serious risk for such hospitalization. Clinical diagnosis would include such conditions as severe depression, intense anxiety disorders, significant impulse control disorders, and psychosis. The current difficulties presented by these youngsters would generally make them temporarily nonresponsive to more traditional outpatient or emergency service programs.

Youngsters who are in emotional crisis can often avoid an inpatient hospitalization with the services of a partial hospitalization program. For such youngsters, the Intensive Day Treatment Program would provide a highly structured daily environment. The primary goal would be to provide crisis stabilization, diagnostic assessment and focused treatment in order to avoid the need for care in a residential setting.

A strategic plan of re-entry can be implemented in a partial hospitalization program for youngsters who are returning to community living and educational settings following a period of inpatient care. The Intensive Day Treatment Program will design an adjustment plan while maintaining much of the structure of the inpatient setting and, at the same time, providing a graduated transition to community living.

Referral to the Intensive Day Treatment Program

Referrals can be initiated directly to the program by any involved agency, independent professional, and by families themselves. Direct referrals are made through horne school districts.

To inquire about the referral process, please contact the Intensive Day Program at Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center. During regular business hours, this can be arranged by calling 370-1883.

Educational institutions may alternatively make a referral by contacting the Western Suffolk BOCES, Special Education Division. Contact can be made during regular business hours at 549-4900, x263.

All referrals will be evaluated to determine the suitability of the program for the referred youngsters. Screenings will be conducted via review of pertinent clinical reports as well as face-to-face interviews.

The Professional Staff of the Intensive Day Treatment Program

The Intensive Day Treatment Program is jointly staffed by Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center and the Western Suffolk BOCES.

Mental health treatment staff from Sagamore include highly trained professionals from all of the major disciplines including child psychiatry, psychology, nursing, and social work. Experienced recreation therapists and mental health therapy assistants complement the clinical professionals to provide an eclectic clinical team.

Educational staff from Western Suffolk BOCES include certified special education teachers, along with trained paraprofessionals. When it is indicated, additional special education staff can be called upon to provide ancillary services.

The mental health staff and the educational staff work together as an integrated team with a focus on each individual youngster. These staff work together throughout all phases of intake, assessment, treatment, and discharge planning.

Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center General Information

Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center is located in Dix Hills, Long Island. The Center opened in 1969 and is one of several children's psychiatric centers operated under the auspices of the New York State Office of Mental Health. Children and adolescents up to the age of 18 who reside in Nassau and Suffolk Counties are eligible for services provided at Sagamore's many mental health programs.

Sagamore's mental health programs for children and families include inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization, day treatment, outpatient clinic treatment, mobile mental health evaluation, and related services. Referrals for services come from many sources including parents, hospitals, schools, social agencies, mental health practitioners, courts, and private physicians. Sagamore is a cooperative partner in the Nassau and Suffolk County children's behavioral health care system. Application for any of the Center's services are handled through its centralized Intake Department.

Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, as well as being a member of the American Hospital Association. The facility enjoys a special relationship with a number of universities and mental health organizations and is actively involved in professional training of physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and allied mental health professionals.

Funding for psychiatric services is handled through a variety of sources including private insurance, Medicaid, and a sliding fee scale.