The Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children (PMIC) program provides intensive treatment for children who are challenged by a serious emotional disturbance which makes them unable to function in their homes, schools and communities. Our goals are to improve each child’s psychological, emotional and academic functioning; return the child to the community and reunite the child with the parent, whenever possible.
Treatment components include:
- Psychiatric Evaluations & Services
- Psychological Assessments
- Individual Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Education Services
- Tutoring and Mentoring
- Recreational Therapy
- 24 hour Nursing Care
- Pediatric Exams and Consultation
- Dietary Consultation
- Aftercare Services
Our treatment units are co-ed and have 10-15 children per unit. Direct care is provided by Milieu Treatment Counselors (MTC’s) who hold Bachelor’s Degrees in human services. Two shifts of MTC’s provide supervision at a 1:5 staff ratio during waking hours. A shift of night supervisors monitor the children during sleeping hours. Our therapists are masters level or above and our recreational therapist is licensed in her field.
The Children We Serve
Children appropriate for referral are between the ages of 10-17, have a psychiatric diagnosis, have attempted treatment within lower levels of care and are reasonably expected to improve with intensive treatment. Children who are primarily chemically dependent, delinquent or who are severely developmentally delayed are not candidates for this treatment program. Children who have a secondary diagnosis of chemical dependency may be referred.
Our program treats children with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnosis and symptoms. These include but are not limited to: Depression; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Reactive Attachment Disorder; Personality Disorder, Psychotic Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome. Behaviors may include severe opposition; aggression; psychosis; destruction of property; school avoidance; self-abuse; suicidal thoughts or gestures or running away.
Children may be placed in our program under a court order or voluntarily by the parent/guardian. Children adjudicated a Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) or Delinquent are court ordered into treatment. The Department of Human Services or Juvenile Court assigns a worker to coordinate the referral process and monitor treatment. Parents/guardians who choose to place their child voluntarily complete the referral process.
How to Refer
Professionals referring to our PMIC program are asked to fax or mail the following information to our Admissions Office: a DHS Caseplan; reports from prior service providers; school information (including grade level, academic performance and special education services, if applicable); psychological testing; and a copy of the most recent court order. Admissions staff are available for consultation.
Parents who are seeking more information or a possible referral are invited to contact an Admissions Coordinator to learn more about the program and, if appropriate, initiate a referral. Campus tours are available. Admissions Coordinators can be contacted by phone or email. Click here to download a referral application.
Funding
Court ordered children are funded by insurance and/or Medicaid. If a child is covered by one or more private insurance policies, Medicaid mandates that these benefits must be accessed first. Children under a court order are Medicaid eligible from the time they are placed outside the family home (admission). Medicaid covers the costs not covered by private insurance. If a child receives income due to child support, SSI, Social Security, adoption subsidies or other assets; DHS requires this income be contributed towards the costs of care while the child is in placement.
Children placed voluntarily are funded by private insurance, whenever benefits exist and/or by Medicaid. Children who do not have insurance benefits and are not eligible for Medicaid prior to admission, are eligible for Medicaid the first of the month after admission. Parents are responsible for payment of services until Medicaid eligibility begins.
Our Commitment to Quality:
Orchard Place is committed to providing effective services in a safe environment. There are many ways we are monitored, ranging from Department of Health Inspectors reviewing our dietary services, inspections from the state Fire Marshall, to licensing by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Orchard Place voluntarily seeks further accreditation by The Joint Commission.
The Joint Commission accreditation is recognized nationwide as a "symbol of quality" for healthcare providers. To earn and maintain accreditation, Orchard Place undergoes extensive on-site reviews at least once every three years. These reviews evaluate our performance in areas that affect our quality of care. We are scored on over 800 standards; some of which include the safety of our buildings, use of seclusion and restraint, distribution of medications, effectiveness of treatment plans, record keeping and staff credentials. By seeking accreditation, we challenge ourselves to continuously improve our services and hold ourselves to a nationally recognized standard.
All The Joint Commission surveys conducted at Orchard Place will be unannounced. Orchard Place believes that unannounced surveys will validate our quality services for children and are viewed as more credible than surveys which are announced.
Surveys will continue to be every three years. If you have any unresolved patient safety or quality of care concerns that you wish to discuss with The Joint Commission surveyor, please leave your name and contact information with the receptionist and you will be contacted on the first day of the unannounced survey.
Discharge:
Our average length of stay for evaluations is 45 - 60 days. Our average length of stay for treatment is approximately 6-12 months. Most children are able to return home after their treatment. Our therapists will assist the family in planning for their child’s return to their home, school and community. Aftercare is available at Orchard Place through our Aftercare Program, for children who need medication monitoring and outpatient therapy. If the family lives too far to commute or prefers another provider, the therapist will assist the family in accessing local providers.
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