Children's social, emotional mental health needs cover a wide range. They may include behavioral problems, like aggressive behavior, or anxiety or nervousness, withdrawal, reactions to abuse, extreme sadness and self doubting, self destructive behavior, social relationship problems, parental uncertainty or worry, and parent-child conflicts. Other concerns include child custody and visitation problems, divorce adjustment problems, school avoidance, and other adjustment problems.
In addition to its clinic based services, Child Guidance Center provides outreach services to more than 50 central Iowa schools to help children achieve healthy emotional and social development so they can succeed academically. We also offer consultation, assessment and treatment services to children from birth to age five, to the community and, in cooperation with Head Start, to child care centers and family child care providers.
A new program of the Child Guidance Center is Child Care Resource and Referral of Central Iowa. Through this program, we provide resources, education and advocacy to meet community needs for affordable and accessible early care in Polk County and coordinate those services in eight neighboring counties. Through an extensive database, we are able to refer parents to programs and providers that match the needs of the individual families.
Over 2,900 young people (from infancy through 18 years of age) are treated on an outpatient basis annually. A professional staff comprised of a board certified child psychiatrist, psycholoigists, certified alcohol and drug counselors, licensed clinical social workers, mental health clinicians, and a nurse practitioner are available to assess and treat the child and family. Coordination of care is available with your child’s pediatrician, home school or other involved professionals.
Our services include:
Pre- and post-natal home visits through Healthy Start
- Consultation and community education
Arrangements for services can be made by calling:
Child Guidance Center
808 5th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-2267
Fees are based on the cost of a particular service. Fees, subsidies, and copayments differ for every family depending on insurance, gross income, where a family lives, and size of a family.
Any child ages birth to age 18-years and their parents may participate.
The referring agent or parent can contact the Initial Services Specialist at Child Guidance Center (515) 244-2267 to schedule an intake session.
- How do I know if my child needs mental health therapy?
If their behavior or mood has changed from usual character, if they are dropping grades, are irritable all the time, or if school or other individuals who work with your child indicates there may be a problem.
- What if my child needs a higher level of care?
The agency has Intensive Outpatient and Residential Programs available. Therapists will help coordinate these services as well as help access hospital services if necessary.
- How much does all of this cost?
Fees are based on the cost of a particular service. Fees, subsidies, and co-payments differ for every family depending on insurance, gross income, where a family lives, and size of a family.
- What happens at the intake session?
After checking in the child and parent will meet with an intake specialist to complete the necessary insurance and legal paperwork. Then the family members meet with a member of the staff. The purpose of the intake session is to gather information about the presenting problems, what has been tried, family history, developmental history of the child, and educational history. A full mental status evaluation and observation of family interactions is completed. Goals for treatment are established.
- What can I expect my child/family to be doing?
There will be weekly to bi-weekly therapy appointments with the clinician for individual and/or family therapy to work on the problems. Clinicians continually make assessments on how the child/family is progressing.
- What is the waiting time?
Initial appointments are generally scheduled within ten working days of your call.
Child Guidance Center has a psychiatrist and nurse practitioner who evaluate and manage medications. Access to medications is only available for clients participating in ongoing therapy.
Please feel free to contact a staff member at (515) 244-2267 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Child Guidance Center is located at 808 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. It is located just across the street (west side) of Veteran’s Auditorium. From the south, go north on 6th Avenue and look for our parking lot on the right. From the north, to go south on 5th Avenue until you see our building.
Parking is free in our lot.
Children who have been victims of sexual abuse or for cases where sexual abuse is suspected. We have individual, family and group therapy. The Young Children’s Sexual Abuse Group is available for children ages 3-7 years who have been victims; School Age Sexual Abuse Group is available for children ages 8-12 years who have been victims; and, a Teen Victim group will be available soon.
The referring agent or parent can contact the Initial Services Specialist at Child Guidance Center (515) 244-2267 to schedule an intake session.
- How do I know if my child has sexual abuse issues?
Your child has been sexually abused and a report has been made. Signs which may indicate sexual abuse are: child may be sexually acting out, touching other peers, showing poor boundaries, and excessive knowledge regarding sexual matters which is not age appropriate.
- What if my child needs a higher level of care?
The agency has Intensive Outpatient and Residential Programs available. Therapists will help coordinate these services as well as helping to access hospital services if necessary.
- How much does all of this cost?
Fees are based on the cost of a particular service. Fees, subsidies, and co-payments differ for every family depending on insurance, gross income, where a family lives, and size of a family.
- What happens at the intake session?
After checking in the child and parent will meet with an intake specialist to complete the necessary insurance and legal paperwork. Then the family members meet with a member of the staff. The purpose of the intake session is to gather information about the presenting problems, what has been tried, family history, developmental history of the child, and educational history. A full mental status evaluation and observation of family interactions is completed. Goals for treatment are established.
- What can I expect my child/family to be doing?
There will be weekly to bi-weekly therapy appointments with the clinician for individual and/or family therapy to work on the problems. Clinicians continually make assessments on how the child/family is progressing.
- What is the waiting time?
Initial appointments are generally scheduled within ten working days of your call.
Please feel free to contact a staff member at (515) 244-2267 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Child Guidance Center is located at 808 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. It is located just across the street (west side) of Veteran’s Auditorium. From the south, to go north on 6th Avenue and look for our parking lot on the right. From the north, to go south on 5th Avenue until you see our building.
Parking is free in our lot.
Children and adolescents from preschool through high school.
The referring agent or parent can contact the Chief Psychologist at Child Guidance Center (515) 244-2267 to schedule.
- How do I know if my child needs a psychological testing?
Often school personnel will suggest that a child have a psychological evaluation/testing to address developmental or academic concerns.
- What if my child needs a higher level of care?
Treatment issues may be discussed with the parent as part of the recommendations after the evaluation.
- How much does all of this cost?
Fees are based on the cost of a particular service. Fees, subsidies, and co-payments differ for every family depending on insurance, gross income, where a family lives, and size of a family.
- What happens at the intake session?
Sometimes, to begin the psychological evaluation, the child’s history and family background are obtained during an interview or intake session.
- What can I expect my child/family to be doing?
The child would meet individually with a psychologist for the testing in one or two sessions. Parents may be interviewed or asked to complete questionnaires about their child.
- What is the waiting time?
The waiting time varies. An estimate of the current length of wait can be given at the initial phone call.
Treatment issues, such as medication, may be discussed with the parent as part of the recommendations after the evaluation.
Please feel free to contact a staff member at (515) 244-2267 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Child Guidance Center is located at 808 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. It is located just across the street (west side) of Veteran’s Auditorium. From the south, go north on 6th Avenue and look for our parking lot on the right. From the north, go south on 5th Avenue until you see our building.
Parking is free in our lot.
This service is available to children and adolescents from birth through high school. Both parents involved in the Court action participate. Children do not participate in Mediation.
The referring agent or parent can contact the Chief Psychologist at Child Guidance Center (515) 244-2267 to schedule an intake session.
- How do I know if I need this service?
This service is appropriate if the parents agree to participate or are ordered to do so by a District Court.
- What if my child needs a higher level of care?
If there are treatment needs, they will be addressed as part of the recommendations of the evaluation.
- How much does all of this cost?
Fees are based on the cost of a particular service. Fees, subsidies, and co-payments differ for every family depending on gross income, where a family lives, and size of a family. Health insurance is not used for this service. Payment is received at the beginning of the evaluation.
- What happens at the intake session?
Separate initial interviews are held with each parent to obtain family background information.
- What can I expect my child/family to be doing?
Parents and children (ages 4 and older) will be interviewed individually and observed together. Younger children also participate in play observations. Parents complete a lengthy questionnaire.
- What is the waiting time?
The waiting time varies. An estimate of the current length of wait can be given at the initial phone call.
Please feel free to contact a staff member at (515) 244-2267 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Child Guidance Center is located at 808 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. It is located just across the street (west side) of Veteran’s Auditorium. From the south, go north on 6th Avenue and look for our parking lot on the right. From the north, go south on 5th Avenue until you see our building.
Parking is free in our lot.
The Co-Occurring Program is designed to treat adolescents who have two diagnoses. Frequently referred as dual diagnosed, these adolescents struggle with substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, etc) AND mental health issues (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc). The strength of the program is in the specialized training and experience of its staff to address both concerns concurrently.
The referring agent or parent can contact the Initial Services Specialist at Child Guidance Center (515) 244-2267 to schedule an intake session.
- How do I know if my child has co-occurring issue? I only know about one.
Many teens are not 100% open and honest with parents about all of their concerns. It is common for an adolescent to tell/show a parent one problem, tell/show a teacher a different problem, and share with their friends other issues. This reality leaves many parents knowledgeable about parts of their adolescent’s life and in the dark about other parts. Program staff work with parents and collaborate with others to get a full picture of what is going on with the teen. All adolescents are screened for both substance use and mental health issues.
- What about mental health issues?
Some adolescents enter this service with existing mental health diagnosis from other professionals. Other adolescents do not have a a formal diagnosis but a parent, teacher, or counselor may suspect an issue or have a concern. In either case all adolescents are evaluated and given a mental status exam and comprehensive clinical interview.
- What if my child needs a higher level of care?
The Co-Occurring Program is not right for every adolescent. Program staff can help clients and their families find appropriate services to match their needs.
