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Naples, Fl – David Lawrence Centers (DLC), Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit mental health and substance use treatment facility serving children, adults and families, is pleased to announce the launch of the new Children’s Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP). – a first of its kind available in Collier County.

The Children’s PHP is a voluntary, intensive therapeutic day program consisting of individual and family intervention and support that allows children to spend evenings at home.

The Children’s PHP is run by a multidisciplinary team including a pediatric psychiatrist, licensed clinicians and a nurse. Adolescents enrolled in the PHP learn healthy coping skills without the need for 24-hour inpatient or residential support. Individuals participate in daily therapeutic, educational, wellness, and expressive therapy groups.

PHP can function as a step-down for minors ages 13 to 17 years old discharged from the Center’s inpatient Crisis Stabilization Unit or as a prevention measure to avoid the need for inpatient emergency treatment or residential placement.

Natalie Garcia, Director of Admission and Outpatient Therapy Services, states “Until now, a gap existed between our 24-hour emergency level of care and the once- or twice-weekly therapy sessions minors typically have after leaving our crisis unit. Although they’re no longer in crisis, many still need more intensive treatment. At the PHP level of care, they benefit from daily therapeutic services and support for themselves and their family.”

The Children’s PHP provides structured and medically supervised treatment for adolescents who are exhibiting significant psychiatric symptoms which are causing severe distress and impairment in areas such as self-care, school functioning, and family or interpersonal relationships.

Garcia adds, “Our hope is that the Children’s PHP can prevent crises from happening. If we see an escalation of symptoms in a minor already involved with our services, and those services are no longer supportive enough, we can now consider PHP as the next level of care.”

The average length of stay is one to three weeks. Because PHP is a day program, participants do not attend school. DLC collaborates with Collier County Schools to develop educational resources on-site that meet the children’s needs. While enrolled in PHP, clients will have access to online school assignments. And when they’re ready to return to school, a case manager works with families and school personnel to ensure successful transition back to school.

The launch of the program is part of the center’s comprehensive children’s services expansion plans which began in 2016 and included the addition of a new Children’s Outpatient Building and doubling the capacity of the Children’s Crisis Unit.

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers is a national leader in providing world-class mental health and substance use solutions for children, adolescents and adults. The Center’s innovative, integrated treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, David Lawrence Centers creates life-changing wellness for more than 9,000 people through over 220,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call (239) 491-7602 or visit click here.

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