Partial Hospitalization Program

Cook Children's Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) serves children ages 5 through 17 and is housed in the Rees Jones Behavioral Health Center on the campus of Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Partial hospitalization focuses on the overall treatment of the individual and is intended to either prevent or reduce inpatient hospitalization.

Who is this program for?

Patients are generally referred to PHP when they are experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms that are difficult to manage, but that do not require 24 hour care. These children are typically having difficulty at home and at school and may be having trouble with peers, as well.

What diagnoses does this program provide treatment for?

We treat children and teens with depression, anxiety, those struggling with grades, behavioral issues, grief, coping with medical illness and medical noncompliance.

What happens in the program?

Children and teens in PHP complete a full day of therapeutic treatment and academics, and return home to be with families each evening. This allows them to continue working on treatment goals at home and return the next day to reassess progress.

While in the program, an individualized treatment plan is developed by the patients, doctor, nurse and family therapist. We decide whether medication is needed and if prescribed, the medication is monitored and stabilized. The child also attends school and is assessed by Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) special education teachers.

Treatment includes medication management by a psychiatrist, group therapy, family therapy, recreational therapy, coping skills, training groups and parent education. We also use the Collaborative Problem Solving evidence based treatment model. In addition, we utilize components of play therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and other compatible treatment modalities in group and family therapy sessions.

How do you get referred to this program?

Children can enter the program in several different ways. Sometimes we treat children on the inpatient unit and then move them down to PHP when they are not imminently at risk of hurting themselves or someone else, but still need ongoing intensive care. Other children are referred directly to PHP after a telephone intake evaluation and psychiatrist review. Finally, a child/adolescent may be seen in our emergency department for an intake assessment and receive psychiatrist recommendation of PHP rather than either inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Who is this program for?

What diagnoses does this program provide treatment for?

What happens in the program?

How do you get referred to this program?

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