Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics for Children

Program Description:  An outpatient psychiatric clinic for children is a community-based children’s mental health facility that provides behavioral health services to children, adolescents and their families. These services are designed to do the following:

• promote mental health and improve functioning, and
• effectively decrease the prevalence and incidence of mental illness, emotional disturbance and social dysfunction.

A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, Mater’s level clinicians and other behavioral health professionals provide diagnostic and treatment services.

Target Population:  Children and adolescents under 18 years of age who experience a psychiatric disorder and their families are eligible to receive an array of comprehensive services that address and/or support their physical, emotional, developmental, social and educational needs.

Definition: "Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for Children" or "Clinic" means a community-based children’s mental health facility which provides mental health services to children and adolescents under eighteen years of age and their families. These services are designed to: (A) promote mental health and improve functioning in children, youth and families; and (B) effectively decrease the prevalence and incidence of mental illness, emotional disturbance and social dysfunction. Responsibility for diagnostic and treatment services is vested in a multi-disciplinary team comprised of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists or other mental health professionals. Supervision of clinical services may be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or marriage and family therapist with appropriate child experience and state licensing. Services shall include but not be limited to diagnostic evaluation, psychological testing, family, group and individual therapies, medication services, crisis or emergency interventions. These clinics shall make every effort to respond flexibly and be accessible to their client population, as well as to work in collaboration with schools, the child welfare system, and other child caring agencies. Services are provided to the general public without bias because of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference and are culturally competent. Clinics shall have in place overall policies and procedures in compliance with sections 17a-20-11 to 17a-20-61, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Clinics shall be licensed by the Department of Children and Families.