Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU opens new program for kids needing mental health care

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) opened the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) on Friday, a new program for children in need of comprehensive mental health care.

On Friday, Sept. 5, VCU held a ribbon-cutting on the PHP, which offers new mental health care at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children on its Northside Campus, per a release from the university.

Ribbon cutting of VCU's Partial Hospitalization Program on Sept. 5. (Photo Courtesy: Allen Jones, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Ribbon cutting of VCU's Partial Hospitalization Program on Sept. 5. (Photo Courtesy: Allen Jones, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Designed for children ages 6 to 17, the 10-day program combines an inpatient psychiatric setting and traditional outpatient mental health care, and is primarily designed for those with significant behavioral, emotional or social distress. However, according to VCU, they must not pose an immediate safety risk.

“Our teams have poured into this program, bringing dedicated new providers on board, developing protocols and procedures, and preparing the safe, supportive space,” said Elias Neujahr, Children's Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) president. “We are ready to welcome our first group of patients. That’s what this work has been about all along – the kids and families whose lives can be changed and improved.”

Children will come to the program from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, and through individual, group and family sessions, pediatric mental health professionals will assist children in building coping and communication skills, among others.

“Sometimes, the hospital is the best place for a child or teen facing mental health struggles, particularly when there is a concern of them hurting themselves or others. As soon as they’re stabilized, we want them to be with their families and in their comfort zones,” said Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D., chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at CHoR. “The PHP format allows them to practice the skills they’re building in the program in their real-life daily environments.”

Walk-through of VCU's Partial Hospitalization Program on Aug. 29. (Photo Courtesy: Allen Jones, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Walk-through of VCU's Partial Hospitalization Program on Aug. 29. (Photo Courtesy: Allen Jones, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

According to a release, PHP may be the next step after patients are discharged from the hospital, while others may be referred from shorter-duration outpatient appointments to this "more intensive and coordinated treatment environment," VCU officials said. Patients are encouraged to work toward setting goals and use treatment approaches that fulfill their own personal needs.

The program will start accepting new patients on Monday, Sept. 8.

For more information about the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, click here.