When your kid is dealing with emotional difficulties and challenging behaviours, you want them to have access to the most effective mental health treatment possible. Outpatient treatment, in which therapists visit your house and work with your adolescent, is one option.
There are occasions, however, when adolescents require special attention. The best option in this scenario is a short-term teenage residential treatment centre, where they may live on-site while engaging in rigorous, concentrated therapy with trained professionals. The goal of these interventions is to help people develop healthy mental routines and address the underlying causes of their emotional, relational, and behavioural difficulties. Teenagers benefit from this not just because they learn to identify negative patterns of behaviour, but also because they build the coping skills necessary to effectively deal with them.
You may have several concerns regarding the various short-term residential treatment programmes available. As a result, this page gives a synopsis of the relevant information, such as recommendations for how to choose the most suitable programme for your child.
What Are Crisis Stabilization Units?
People experiencing a mental health crisis whose needs cannot be fulfilled securely in residential care settings may be admitted to a Crisis Stabilisation Unit (CSU), a small inpatient facility with 16 crisis chairs or beds or less. Individuals in need of a secure but less restricted setting than a hospital may be admitted voluntarily or involuntarily to a CSU. CSUs work to stabilise patients and return them to the community as soon as possible.
During a crisis, visitors get clinical, medical, and recovery-oriented treatment using a person-centered strategy to meet their urgent needs. Each guest is given a customised treatment plan based on their specific medical needs. Within the first 23 hours, most patients are stabilised. Those in need of longer-term support can stay for up to five days.
What is residential treatment?
When a kid receives residential treatment, he or she moves into a facility where he or she may get care around the clock. A kid that requires this degree of care typically exhibits extremely problematic behaviours, such as intense fury, hostility, sexual acting out, violence, criminal behaviour, or severe mental health concerns.
The youngster usually cannot leave the residential facility without supervision, however this is not always the case. The campus’s kids all go to nearby schools. Integrated into the curriculum of most residential treatment facilities for children is a tiny, fully functional school. Any additional rules, such as your child’s Individualised Education Programme (IEP), must be followed by this school as well.
Children in residential treatment settings have the option of going on trips and participating in extracurricular activities like athletics or staying in the facility at all times. At times, this is decided by how one acts.
Cottages and other smaller dwellings are commonly used to provide a more homely atmosphere for children.
Positive reinforcement, prizes, and punishments for undesirable actions are all standard at most facilities. If a youngster is violently angry, he or she will likely be physically restrained in most institutions.
Communication within families is emphasised. Family visits and phone conversations are permitted, albeit the frequency and length of each may be restricted by programme requirements and concerns for the children’s and parents’ safety.
Categories of Residential Treatment Options for Children & Teens
Children can choose from a wide variety of residential treatment programmes. Knowing the numerous options (and how they are funded) can help you choose the one that is best for your kid.
1. Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)
Most residential treatment programmes for mental health issues last between nine and twelve months. Although it is not common, RTF assignments can last over several years.
Insurance and Medicaid typically pay for programmes. It’s important to get a mental health diagnosis. Insurance co-payments and child support payments may be expected from parents. When all other alternatives for paying for medical care have been explored, including private insurance, you may be able to apply for Medicaid via your state.
To offset the costs of RTF placement, the foster care system is used in several states. Parents may be forced to make child support payments to the state if their kid is placed in one of these settings in order to assist with the cost of treatment.
Because RTF treatment is so extensive and costly, it is only offered to the sickest and wealthiest of children. All previous unsuccessful outpatient treatment attempts must be documented.
Suicidal ideation, severe depression, PTSD, severe autism, sexualized behaviour, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Reactive Attachment Disorder are among conditions that call for RTF placement.
2. Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
The juvenile justice system frequently mandates residential treatment for disruptive youth. The treatment isn’t the main emphasis, but it’s there. When a person is placed in a residential treatment facility (RTC), either the court or the foster care system pays for their care.
The state may require parents to pay child support in order to assist pay for their children’s upkeep.
3. Therapeutic Boarding Schools (TBS)
Privately run and entirely dependent on student tuition are therapeutic boarding schools. Several of them are charitable organisations.
Therapeutic boarding schools come in a wide variety.
- Boarding schools for mental health
- For the Military
- Evangelical residential colleges
- Centres for equine and ranch-based therapies
- Both public and private initiatives
- Schools for boys and schools for girls
- Autistic children and adults can attend residential treatment programmes.
Most boarding schools charge students a hefty sum of money each year to stay there. Help in the form of grants, scholarships, and installment plans is offered. Some of the software is offered at no cost or at a reduced price. Here, one mother shares her family’s experience paying for boarding school.
4. Autism Treatment
Children who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can get help via Autism Treatment. Severe cases of autism in children are the focus of residential treatment centres. Adults on the spectrum of autism can participate in residential programmes and group homes.
5. Military Groups
Military boarding schools are known for their strict discipline and monitoring. Both boys-only and mixed-gender options are available. Female-only armed forces academies do not exist. The vast majority are for a fee on the individual’s part. Payment arrangements and scholarships are offered.
Common Services Provided By Crisis Stabilization and Short-Term RTF
Professionals in the field of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF are tasked with meeting the urgent needs of patients through a range of interventions. Here are some examples of typical work performed by experts in this field:
- Assessing and responding to a crisis
Responders in a mental health crisis need to be able to swiftly assess a patient’s status and act accordingly.
- Controlling medications
The ability to properly and successfully administer drugs for the treatment of mental health issues is an essential skill for professionals in this sector.
- Group and individual treatment
Short-term RTF and crisis stabilisation both benefit greatly from therapeutic intervention. Therapists in this sector need to be competent to facilitate both individual and group sessions for their clients.
- Managing behaviours
Professionals in crisis stabilisation must have the ability to control and lessen the severity of potentially dangerous patient behaviours during treatment.
- Managing individual cases
Case management and care coordination are two of the main responsibilities of experts in this industry.
- Family counseling
Counselling for the whole family is a powerful tool for healing and restoration. Professionals in crisis stabilisation should have the training and experience to counsel and comfort patients’ loved ones.
- Post-discharge care and planning
Discharge and aftercare planning are crucial components of both crisis stabilisation and rapid treatment for acute conditions. Care providers have a responsibility to make sure their patients have a strategy in place for when they return home.
- Administration of a Crisis Hotline
People who work in the field of crisis stabilisation sometimes double as crisis hotline operators, assisting those who are undergoing a mental health crisis.
- Recreational treatment in groups
Participating in a support group or engaging in recreational therapy might be helpful throughout the healing process. Practitioners in this sector need the ability to conceptualise and carry out interventions that boost health and well-being.
- Training and managing the staff
Finally, those working in this industry need skills in supervision and training to ensure that their staff members have all they need to give excellent care to patients.
Compensation for a Short-Term RTF and Crisis Stabilisation Expert
Veterans who are thinking about working in Crisis Stabilisation or Short-Term RTF must have accurate information about salary expectations. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF experts was $49,610 in May of 2020. A Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF professional’s salary may be affected by a number of factors, including their level of experience, level of education, where they work, and the type of organisation they are employed for. Those with post-bachelor’s credentials may seek a higher salary than their less educated peers.Â
Professionals in the fields of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF often earn incomes that are comparable to those of other types of mental health counsellors and therapists. The salary of a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, for example, may be greater than that of a general psychologist or psychiatrist because of the additional training and education they require.
Learning Objectives for a Career in Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF
Obtain the Necessary Knowledge and Training:
Professionals in the fields of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF need specific training and education. A degree or certification in psychology, counselling, or a similar discipline may qualify. It helps to be able to work well with others in a fast-paced, high-pressure setting and to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Become certified:
In most cases, working in the fields of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF requires a valid licence issued by the relevant governmental agency. While each state has its own set of regulations for obtaining a licence, most of them entail meeting a minimum standard for education and experience, taking and passing an exam, and providing evidence of a clean criminal record. The procedures for getting a licence are as follows:
Perform a History Verification:
To fulfil this requirement in the state of Florida, applicants must engage the services of a certified provider of electronic fingerprinting. The Florida Electronic Fingerprinting Service (FEPS) is a widely used vendor that has been given the green light.
Request a Licence:
Those interested must apply for a licence with the relevant state department. It is usually the Florida Department of Health.
Get Your Exam Prep Done:
Applicants are expected to take and succeed on the relevant licencing examination. It’s possible that the NCMHCE, or a test with similar content, is required in Florida.
Obtain a Credentialing Body's Seal:
To operate in the field of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF, applicants need to first get a licence from the state body responsible for issuing such licences.
Gain Experience:
Third, get relevant work experience if you want to make a name for yourself in the subject of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF. Before entering the area of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF work, it may be necessary to get experience in a comparable profession, such as mental health counselling or social work. Professionals can also benefit from continuing their education and gaining experience in the sector through on-the-job training.
Expand one's professional circle:
Those working in Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF might benefit greatly from networking and developing professional ties. Some ways to do this include via participating in industry gatherings, joining relevant professional groups, and making connections with other professionals.
Look for Opportunities to Advance Your Career:
Professional development opportunities are essential if you want to keep evolving as a Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF expert. Conferences, CEU courses, and finding a mentor or coach might all be part of this process.
Think About Continuing Your Education:
Pursuing more education or training is a viable choice for people who aspire to progress further in their jobs. You can accomplish this by getting specialised training in the subject of Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF work, or by getting a master’s or doctorate in a discipline like counselling or psychology.
Concluding Remarks
Anyone interested in working in Crisis Stabilisation or Short-Term RTF should first get a background check. Patients’ health and safety should be a top priority, thus it’s essential that healthcare professionals have no criminal histories to raise concerns. You should get a background check from a service that’s been approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and we strongly recommend that you do so. This not only indicates a dedication to patient safety and security, but it also satisfies the standards for licencing in this sector. For thinking about a future in Crisis Stabilisation and Short-Term RTF, we appreciate your interest and wish you the best of luck.
