The children of Wisconsin will be the healthiest in the nation. The psychiatry and behavioral medicine program offers a wide variety of outpatient tests, treatments and services. We recommend the first step is to discuss with your child's pediatrician to see if it's important to seek a specialist. At Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, our pediatric-trained doctors are focused 100 percent on kids - which means you can be sure your child is in the very best hands. As one of the nation's top pediatric hospitals, we see kids of all ages for everything from routine checkups to the most serious and complex conditions. We are the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. In Milwaukee and throughout the state, we provide kids and their families a wide range of care and support - everything from routine care for ear aches or sore throats to life saving advances and treatment options.
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Services Offered
School based mental health - The mental health therapists at Children's Hospital are committed to providing mental health services not only in the hospital and clinics, but now also in schools. School based mental health services are most appropriate for families who have difficulty bringing their child to a clinic due to some of the following reasons: transportation issues, childcare issues, other mental health concerns in the family, and financial stressors. With a signed release to communicate with school staff, therapists can provide consultation to your child's teacher(s) about your child's mental health diagnosis and ways the school staff can best support your child to maximize learning in the classroom. It is also a main goal of the therapist to support your child's healthy development in an educational setting. Once your child is referred, you will attend an intake appointment with or without your child (depending on the child's age and therapist's preference). Prior to or during this appointment you will be asked to complete paperwork allowing for mental health treatment for your child and giving the therapist permission to exchange information with your child's teacher and school staff. In the intake appointment the therapist will gather historical information about your child's strengths, development, family history, and information about the presenting problem. A diagnosis is then given based upon your child's symptoms; recommendations will be provided to you at the intake appointment, along with how ongoing therapy sessions can best support your child's course of therapy at their school. In some instances, clinicians may make referrals to other programs when more specialized services are needed.
* Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) * Depression * Anxiety (worrying) * Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) * Behavior problems * Adjustment issues due to stress or changes in the child's life * Grief and loss issues * Separation of family when the child is not living with his/her parents
Group therapy - In group therapy, children find out they are not alone with their illness or fears. They can talk with other children their own age who have the same problems. By working together, they can build trust with each other to share their feelings, information and successes. Groups let children talk about their feelings in a safe and private way. They get help with their problems from the therapists and from the group. Groups focus on many issues, such as anger management, social fears and coping with medical conditions. The therapist teaches the children skills to help them deal more effectively with their problems. The children practice these skills during group activities. Children can then use these skills in everyday life.
Counseling - Our counseling services can reduce stress and conflict within families, improve parenting skills, help children and families deal with traumatic situations, and address behavioral and social difficulties.
Child and Family Counseling - At sites throughout Wisconsin, our licensed child and family counselors work with children - from toddlers through adolescents - and their families to address problems and strengthen family ties. Our counselors assist families with issues such as depression and anxiety, low self-esteem, anger management, abuse, parent-child conflicts and changes related to adoption or foster care placement.
Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Center - Our psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists psychotherapists and nurse practitioners provide mental health diagnosis and treatment for anxiety and attachment disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, bipolar disorder, child abuse and neglect, depression and psychotic disorders.
Greensquare Developmental Specialists - Behavioral health services are available at our offices in Mequon and Franklin. Providers at these sites help parents learn to deal with a child's behavioral issues. Our experts include a pediatrician with a focus on developmental learning and behavioral issues as well as a licensed professional counselor and licensed clinical social workers.
Grief and bereavement counseling - The pain and sadness associated with the death of a child can be overwhelming for parents, siblings and other family members. We offer a variety of resources to help families cope with this devastating loss.
Child welfare services - We provide child well-being services to help children live in a safe and nurturing environment. Some parents need education and guidance to improve their parenting skills so their children can remain with them. In other cases, children must be removed from their homes. These children are placed with foster families until they can return home or become part of an adoptive family.
Fees and Payment
Children's Community Health Plan (CCHP), an affiliate of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, is pleased to offer Together with Children's Community Health Plan-a new, local health insurance plan for everyone. Available both on the exchange and off the exchange, Together with CCHP has affordably priced plans and offers access to high quality healthcare from a broad network of providers in southeast Wisconsin. A sliding fee schedule for counseling services is based on family income. We are also a nonprofit agency.
Services Offered To: Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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Qualifying for assistance from Wisconsin's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Wisconsin's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.