Orchard Place Today

The mission of Orchard Place is “developing strong futures for children and youth with mental health and behavioral disorders.” Orchard Place is a nationally recognized leader in children’s mental health and juvenile justice services. We are one of only a few organizations in the country that incorporate both mental health and juvenile justice services for children and adolescents. Throughout our three branches of service—Child Guidance Center, PACE Juvenile Center and Orchard Place Campus—we contribute to the community’s well-being by serving the mental health, substance abuse, educational and juvenile justice needs of children, adolescents, and young adults.

Orchard Place’s three branches of service

Child Guidance Center (CGC)

Orchard Place’s outpatient division, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is the only state-accredited community mental health center for children in Iowa. For more than 70 years, the Child Guidance Center has provided a wide range of child-focused and family-centered mental health treatment and prevention services. Child Guidance Center served 6,071 children and youth last year, in programs such as individual and family therapy, intensive outpatient, outreach services, Functional Family Therapy, school-based services, psychological testing, and in-home services.

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PACE Juvenile Center

A community-based program serving youth, young adults and families. PACE served 2,543 adolescents and young adults last year in programs such as gender specific day treatment, school-based services, credit recovery and life skills instructions, out-patient substance abuse education and treatment, community supervision, individual and family therapy, both in-home and office based. PACE leads a collaborative effort with area school districts, Polk County Juvenile Court, the Iowa Department of Human Services, and our local communities to help these young people strengthen their family and promote self-sufficiency.

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Orchard Place Campus

Orchard Place Campus is the premier Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children in Iowa, regularly caring for a capacity of 103 children, ages 10 to 17; we served 238 children and youth in this program last year. Additionally, 204 children were provided Aftercare Services. Children served by the program are seriously emotionally disturbed, and have been diagnosed with various disorders, including depression, problems with attachment, psychosis and behavior disorders that affect the health and safety of the child or others. The average length of stay last year was 11.1 months. Master’s level therapists provide individual, family and group therapy. Through a partnership with the Des Moines Public Schools, we have an on-campus school for the children staffed with teachers certified in behavioral disorders and special education.

Orchard Place Facts

Organizational Achievements and Recognition

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