Behavioral Intervention Services
Some children have behaviors that put their safety, their relationships or their schooling at risk. Behavioral intervention works out what those behaviors are doing for the child and teaches a better way to get the same thing.
At the Children’s Hospital the question is always why, not just how to stop it.
Our team, which includes a board-certified behavior analyst, starts by looking for the function behind a behavior: what triggers it, what it communicates, and what the child gets or avoids through it. From there, we build a behavior support plan that teaches a better way to meet the same need.
Interventions are positive and practical. We reinforce the behaviors we want to see more of, teach communication and coping skills, and adjust the environment so success comes easier. Physical intervention is always a last resort, used only to keep people safe.
Families are part of the plan. We coach parents and caregivers on the same strategies staff use, so progress made in the hospital carries over to home and school.
The Walk-In Clinic is open 24/7 for psychiatric assessments, no appointment necessary. Call the Children’s Hospital at (270) 689-6800.
What to Expect
Behavioral intervention begins with observation and assessment during your child’s first days on the unit. The team identifies patterns and builds a plan specific to your child.
You’ll see the plan, understand it, and learn how to use it. Before discharge, the team walks your family through the strategies that worked.
Other Children’s Hospital Services
Inpatient Services
Inpatient psychiatric care for children and teens ages 5 to 17 at our 80-bed Owensboro hospital, with an on-site school, family therapy and discharge planning.
Acute Psychiatric Inpatient
Short-term inpatient care for children and teens in psychiatric crisis: immediate safety, 24/7 monitoring, and a plan for what happens next.
Individual Group Family Therapy
Individual, group and family therapy for every child in the hospital, using TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT, with parents and caregivers part of the plan.
Specialized Therapeutic Activities
Art, music, movement, games and recreation, built into every child’s daily schedule as part of treatment.
Medication Evaluation Management
Medication evaluation and management by child and adolescent psychiatrists, with parents in on every decision and daily monitoring during the stay.
Nursing Care Crisis Support
Registered nurses and behavioral health associates on the unit 24 hours a day, handling medications, health needs and de-escalation.
Specialized Therapies
The STATE Program for autism spectrum disorder, the BIRCH long-term program for boys 12 to 17, and TF-CBT, EMDR and DBT across the hospital.
