Neurobehavioral Continuum of Care
The Neurobehavioral Continuum of Care at Cincinnati Children’s provides services to youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and other behavioral health concerns. We serve children from ages 2–22. You can find care ranging from outpatient appointments to inpatient hospitalization.
From our providers to our clinic space, everything is designed specifically for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Our dedicated nurses, medical assistants and staff are trained in developmental disabilities, and our clinic spaces have extra sensory and safety features.
Are you new to Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children’s? Contact PIRC, our Psychiatric Intake Response Center.
Neurobehavioral Psychiatry Treatments
Those who need neurobehavioral psychiatry treatment have access to a full continuum of care. That means we connect families to the appropriate level of care based on their needs. They may move between programs within the continuum based on how their needs change.
Expanded Outpatient Services
You may receive a range of neurobehavioral outpatient services based on need. Outpatient services do not require a stay in the hospital. These services are all appointment-based. Intensive outpatient care is any service you or your child receives more than one time per week.
Outpatient treatment often includes a mix of therapy and medication management. You may work with a psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse practitioner, social work therapist or clinician from another specialty, such as occupational therapy.
Neurobehavioral Partial Hospital Program (NB PHP)
The Neurobehavioral Partial Hospital Program (NB PHP) is a group-based therapeutic day program focused on learning emotion regulation skills. Patients in the program receive six hours of daily (Monday through Friday) intensive behavioral and other treatments. You work with a team of dedicated experts from different specialty areas, including psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, speech language therapy, social work and school services.
Before starting the program, all patients admitted to NB PHP must attend an intake appointment to determine their readiness for the program.
Most children spend 4–6 weeks (or 20–30 program days) in the NB PHP. It’s important that caregivers are involved. Caregivers participate in several team meetings and information sessions throughout the program.
NB PHP is for patients:
- Ages 9–17
- With a neurodevelopmental diagnosis and mild intellectual disability
- With emotion regulation challenges that make it difficult to function at home or at school
- Who can safely join a program with peers in a small group setting without needing one-on-one support
- Who need more intense psychiatric treatment but do not require inpatient admission
The goal of treatment in the NB PHP is for your child to successfully transition back to the school and community setting. Another goal is to keep your child and others safe to prevent having to go to the emergency department or inpatient unit.
Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit
The Neurobehavioral Inpatient Unit (NBU) is a 24-hour specialized psychiatry hospital unit. It serves youth with significant behavioral disorders in addition to a developmental disability, such as autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability.
The average length of stay on the NBU is 7–14 days, with an overall goal of stabilizing the acute crisis and transitioning patients back to home for continued therapeutic interventions.
We reserve care in the NBU for patients:
- Ages 4–17
- With moderate to severe disabilities
- Who are in acute mental or behavioral health crisis
The goal of inpatient treatment on the NBU is first to stabilize any immediate threats of harm patients have to themselves or others. The NBU has a multidisciplinary care team, including psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs), occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and social workers. This team works together to develop a treatment plan. Then, with the family and other outpatient providers, we help the child transition back into the home and community as safely and quickly as possible.
Inpatient services for patients with developmental disabilities are just one component of our comprehensive treatment program.
Additional Services
With neurobehavioral care, a child may need more than psychiatry services. So, we also work closely with other specialties, such as:
- Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology (BMCP)
- Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- Care Management
- Human Genetics
- Neurology
- Occupational Therapy
- Perlman Center
- Speech Language Therapy
- Social Work
How to Get Treatment
All neurobehavioral treatment is referral-based. That means another provider must refer you to us before you can schedule an appointment.
Learn about our Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC).
After you are referred, you may need a phone screening from our intake coordinator. Some patients must complete a referral packet before you can schedule your first appointment.
Note: Referrals can have restrictions based on factors, such as where you live, the age of the patient and the patient’s diagnoses.
What to Expect
With any type of neurobehavioral psychiatric treatment, our goal is to bring together the family and providers required for success. Each of our clinics varies slightly. Before a child gets admitted to inpatient care or attends an outpatient appointment, you will get more information from your team.
Inpatient Care
For inpatient care on the NBU, your child will stay overnight in the psychiatric hospital. Patient bedrooms are private and include a personal bathroom. We usually allow for one parent or caregiver to stay overnight with your child.
We limit personal items on the NBU due to safety. Your inpatient care team will work with your family to help determine what personal items you can bring to the inpatient unit.
Outpatient Care
For outpatient care, your family usually visits for a psychiatric medication management or therapy appointment. Our neurobehavioral clinic is in a specially designed space for people with developmental disabilities. Your child then sees one of our doctors, nurse practitioners, therapists or other providers.
Locations for Neurobehavioral Psychiatry
Most Neurobehavioral Continuum of Care treatment takes place at our College Hill Campus.
