Behavioral Health
Does Your Child Need a Behavioral Evaluation?
WHAT WE DO
In cooperation with community-based mental health providers, we evaluate and treat children for behavior concerns and school problems including:
Inattention and lack of focus
Anxiety
Depression
If you have concerns about your child's behavioral development, please call our office and ask to make an appoinntment with your primary care physician. At that visit, we will discuss your concerns and gather information that will be used to determine how we can best help your child. These are some of the tools that we use for evaluation:
Assessment tools to complete for children ages 5-12:
Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Parent
Developmental or behavior concerns
Assessment tools to be complete for children ages 13-18:
Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Parent
Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) – Child
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9)
CRAFFT screening tool
Assessment tools to be complete for children ages 13-18:
Child Obsessional Compulsive Inventory- Parent and Child (CHOCI)
Completing the Assessments
We now use a platform called CHADIS that allows parents to submit questionnaires online through our portal.
We will likely need to schedule a follow up appointment to discuss results before any medications can be recommended.
What to Expect at a Behavioral Evaluation
One week prior to your follow up appointment, complete assigned assessments noted above. On the day of your child's behavioral evaluation, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
If the doctor prescribes medication, he/she will want to follow up with your child within 28 days to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled. A front desk staff member will schedule this appointment with you before you leave the office.
Ongoing Medication Management
After your child's initial evaluation, if medication is started, your child must be seen within 28 days in order to continue the medication. If your child is doing well with his/her medication, subsequent appointments will be scheduled every 3-4 months. If a medication or dosage change is needed, your child must be seen within 1 month to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled.
latest news
You may have heard news about rising numbers of measles cases in Texas and other areas of the United States. 2 doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective (97%) at preventing measles infections. At CHCAC, children receive their first dose at age 1 and a second dose at age 4, to make sure kids are fully protected as soon as possible, and following the recommendations from the CDC. Some infants aged 6 months to 11 months who travel internationally to high-prevlance areas may need a dose to protect them, but they still need the 1 year and 4 year old doses as well. If you are ever concerned about a possible exposure to measles, please CALL before entering our office. DO NOT ENTER the office. This is a highly contagious illness and special precautions must be taken to prevent spread.
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