Pediatric Behavioral Health

UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital

Pediatric Behavioral Health Services

Children face many obstacles while trying to grow and find their identity. The challenge facing parents and children as they cope with these issues can often lead to conflict in everyday life. At Iowa Lutheran Hospital, we strive to provide the highest level of care for each patient. We work to identify and understand the problems your child is having and create a care plan to help start the road to a healthy life.

Children and adolescents may experience:

  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Behavioral problems
  • Problems in school
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Sexual identity issues
  • Depression
  • Aggression
  • Family conflict
  • Defiant behaviors
  • Poor impulse control

Children and Adolescent Partial Programs

Pediatric behavioral health services at Iowa Lutheran Hospital offers a continuum of care for children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 who experience problems at home, in school or in the community. Our pediatric behavioral health team recognizes the need for various levels of care and age-appropriate programs to meet the needs of children and adolescents.

Goals of the Children and Adolescent Partial Programs

  • Provide crisis intervention
  • Assess needs
  • Initiate education
  • Provide structure in the child's environment
Childrens Partial Program

Children's Partial Program

  • For ages 5-13.
  • Offered five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
  • The average length of the program is two weeks.
  • Each patient will be followed by a psychiatrist for weekly medication management.
Admission Criteria
  • Assessment performed by a qualified mental health provider
  • Mental health diagnosis
  • Insurance approval/authorization

To schedule an assessment for the children's program, call (515) 253-5322.

Adolescent Partial Program

Adolescent Partial Program

  • For ages 13-17.
  • Offered five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • The average length of the program is 2-4 weeks.
  • Each patient will be followed by a psychiatrist for weekly medication management.
Admission Criteria
  • Assessment performed by a qualified mental health provider
  • Mental health diagnosis
  • Insurance approval/authorization

To schedule an assessment for the adolescent program, call (515) 263-2368.

Continuum of Care

The appropriate level of care is determined individually through initial and ongoing assessments.

  • Assessment. Assessment sessions last one hour and result in recommendations for the next step.
  • Individualized Family Support. Staff provide individualized support and direction to assist parents with developing a behavioral management program to be utilized at home.
  • Individual, Group and Family Therapy. Individual, group and family therapy helps the patient, as well as their support system, learn about themselves and gain encouragement, perspective and ideas from others facing similar issues. We offer a variety of specialized groups to meet the needs of our patients.
  • Partial Hospitalization Program. The goals of the Partial program are to provide crisis intervention, assess needs, initiate education and provide structure in the child's environment.

Treatment Components

  • Anger management
  • Communication and assertiveness
  • Crisis management
  • Medication management and compliance
  • Self-esteem and assertiveness
  • Individual and family support

Care Team

We utilize an interdisciplinary team approach to child and adolescent care and treatment. Our team consists of:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Psychiatric Nurses
  • Licensed Mental Health Therapists
  • Behavioral Health Counselors
  • Patient Care Techs
  • Pharmacists