Walter Reed National Military Medical Center > Health Services > Mental Health > Child and Adolescent Outpatient Mental Health

The challenges facing today’s youth are complex, and this is particularly true for children and adolescents within military families. Recognizing this, a Child and Adolescent Outpatient Behavioral Health program is available to provide support through evaluations and treatment services. This program aims to improve the quality of life for these young people by addressing a range of emotional and behavioral concerns.

Understanding the Program

The program offers multidisciplinary evaluations and treatment across a spectrum of diagnoses. It actively collaborates with schools, providers, and agencies to ensure comprehensive care for military families navigating complicated emotional or behavioral issues. Treatment is time-based, focusing on specific areas of need.

Did You Know? The program provides medication management, with a focus on stabilization and transition to Primary Care Managers for ongoing, long-term follow-up.

Areas of Focus

The program addresses a variety of clinical concerns, including peer and family conflicts, school-related issues like academic struggles and bullying, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. It also provides support for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, grief and loss, and oppositional behaviors.

Available Services

The program offers a range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of its patients. These include psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and crisis intervention.

Expert Insight: Providing specialized behavioral health services to military youth acknowledges the unique stressors associated with military life and the potential impact on a child’s emotional well-being. A collaborative approach with schools and other agencies suggests a commitment to holistic care.

Limitations of Services

It’s important to note that the program does not provide certain services. These include court-ordered treatment, involuntary treatment, substance abuse treatment, custodial evaluations, eating disorder treatment, juvenile sexual offender treatment, in-home behavioral health services, and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA).

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of concerns does this program address?

The program addresses concerns such as peer conflict, family conflict, school-related issues, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, grief and loss, and oppositional behaviors.

What services are offered through this program?

Services include psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and crisis intervention.

Are all types of behavioral health treatment available?

No, the program does not provide court-ordered treatment, involuntary treatment, substance abuse treatment, custodial evaluations, eating disorder treatment, juvenile sexual offender treatment, in-home behavioral health services, or Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA).

How might access to specialized behavioral health programs impact the long-term well-being of children in military families?