Youth Day Treatment

The Youth Day Treatment Program is a psychiatric partial hospitalization program for children Kindergarten – 6th grade who are diagnosed as having a serious emotional disorder.

Children treated in this program are required to become a Southwestern patient and most often have a primary diagnosis of a disruptive behavior disorder (usually Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity or Oppositional Defiant Disorder) but also co-morbid diagnoses of mood disorder, anxiety disorder and/or other disorders. Many have significant past trauma and/or ongoing environmental stress. All patients must be qualified as Seriously Emotionally Handicapped (SEH) by their local school system and thereby be eligible for Special Education services. Patients typically remain in the program for a year or less, although longer stays are permitted based on clinical need.

During the normal program day, children receive both classroom instruction and treatment, including individual, group, and activity therapy, for their behavior problems. Located on Evansville's west side, the Youth Day Treatment Program is provided in cooperation with the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation and serves as the child's school placement for part or all of the school year. It is available to children from other counties based on an agreement with the local school corporation and Southwestern.

The Youth Day Treatment program’s vision is to assist each child in acquiring the necessary skills, behaviorally and academically, in order to return to the least restrictive learning environment possible.

For more information about the Youth Day Treatment program, please call 812.426.2499.