The Child/Adolescent Inpatient Unit at Rush provides exceptional diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services to children and adolescents exhibiting severe emotional disturbances. The unit can accommodate up to 15 children and serves both males and females, ages 3 to 16. Children and adolescents are divided into two program tracks each containing activities, therapeutic groups and school sessions appropriate to a designated age/developmental range. The unit also operates a partial hospital program. Children/adolescents enrolled in the partial hospital program come during daytime hours and are integrated into the activities of the inpatient program.

The psychiatrists and staff of the Child/Adolescent Inpatient Unit are committed to creating at atmosphere where children and adolescents are respected and their needs recognized and understood. It is the belief of the unit staff that every child has the right to life experiences that foster feelings of competency and self‑worth.

The broad objective for each patient is to receive a thorough evaluation and therapies aimed at crisis stabilization, all within a safe, structured and supportive environment. Medication and behavioral therapies are often used to help the child/adolescent reach an optimum level of wellness. The unit program is structured to support strengths, give attention to positive actions and set consistent limits that assist patients in regulating behaviors. Individual therapeutic treatment plans for patients are designed to enable them to return as quickly as possible to their home or to the environment that will most effectively meet their needs when they are clinically stable. Families are encouraged to be actively involved in the treatment process. We seek to understand the family’s view of the patient’s situation and to provide education and explanation on our formulation of the child’s difficulties. We also assist families in arranging post-hospitalization services that continue to support the child’s growth and development and strengthen the family’s ability to function.

The Child/Adolescent unit utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach coordinated by a child psychiatrist. The team includes child psychiatric nurses, clinical social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, recreation and art therapists, mental health workers and a clinical educator who is trained in working with patients with behavioral and learning disorders. With the consent of the patient and family, professionals who have referred the patient for treatment are encouraged to participate in the weekly multidisciplinary treatment planning meetings and the discharge planning process.