Campus Slideshow

Visits, Phone Calls and Mail

Visits, phone calls and mail from family members and others are encouraged. It is helpful for children in treatment to have consistent and predictable routines.

On-campus visits

There is no waiting period for visits by family or designated parties. We ask that parent/guardians set up visits through the therapist. It is important for us to know who is on campus at all times. It is also important for the milieu staff to help children prepare for emotions they may feel before and after visits.

Visits with non-family members are allowed if approved by both Orchard Place staff and the parent/guardian. Visits with lawyers, social workers, probation officers and clergy are allowed. We do not have specific visiting hours but ask that visitors avoid school hours.

Off-campus and home visits

Many children benefit from spending time with their family in the community or home. This is an opportunity to practice new behaviors and promote healthy family relationships. We encourage families to choose goals for the visit. Again, we request that visits are scheduled with the therapist in advance. We might also need to send medications with the child and plan for staff coverage and meals for the children remaining on campus.

 

Parent Newsletter

The OP Parent News newsletter provides information and resources for parents of children attending Campus and other Orchard Place. It is published twice a year in March and October. 

 

What Should We Pack?

Parents/guardians are expected to provide clothing for their children while they are at Orchard Place. The unit staff will work with you to make sure you know your child’s clothing needs during their stay. However, if you cannot provide clothing, let us know; we have a clothing closet available on campus.

We ask that you send clothing suitable for the season. Laundry is done several times a week in each unit. Please be sure clothing is marked so that it is not misplaced. An easy way to do this is to put your child’s initials on the tags with permanent marker.

Below is a typical clothing list. You may choose to send more than what is listed, but space is limited.

Toiletries are available in each unit but children may bring their own. Anything marked “keep out of reach of children” or containing glass must be kept in a secure place. Aerosol cans are not allowed.

Please send minimal personal items due to room-sharing and limited space. You are welcome to send your own pillow and bedding or use the bedding provided. A bulletin board is in each room; if you post pictures or other items, please do not display your last name, address or phone number to protect your privacy. You should not send expensive items, sharp items, glass or pottery. We encourage you to send a book and a few reminders of home.

Electronics

You may send a personal CD player or battery-powered radio. We allow Game Boy/Game Boy Advance but limit playing time. Only electronic games rated “E for Everyone” are allowed. We We do not allow Personal PlayStations (PSPs) due to their e-mailing capabilities, MP3 players, iPods or burned CDs due to increaed difficulty monitoring appropriate music. Children are not allowed cell phones on campus.

Our rules are based on research regarding the negative effects of inappropriate games and music on children, as well as our wish to protect families from the loss of expensive items. We do provide game systems, CD players and CDs in every unit.

Forms for Referral

In order to refer a child to Orchard Place, the

Referral Application, the Bio/Psycho/Social Assessment and the Placement Agreement need to be completed by the parent or guardian.

The Authorization for Release of Professional Information form must be completed for current and previous treatment or services providers and for all insurance and/or Medicaid. The form allows us to obtain records for the child and to contact insurance companies regarding benefits. Please complete one for each professional or agency who has worked with the child including the county DHS office (i.e. “Polk County DHS”) or Juvenile Court Office (i.e. “Warren County Juvenile Court”). They are considered the Health Care Provider and Orchard Place is the recipient. You may also sign a release at the office of the other treatment provider. Records can be faxed or mailed to us, please visit our contact page for details.

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 once 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 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.

Department of Human Services Health Services Application (Medicaid Application)

 

How to Refer

Professionals referring to our PMIC program are asked to fax or mail the following information to our Admissions Office:

Admissions staff are available for consultation. Those who seek more information or wish to make a referral are invited to contact an Admissions Coordinator to learn more about the program and, if appropriate, initiate a referral. In order to refer a child to Orchard Place, the Referral Application, the Bio/Psycho/Social Assessment and the Placement Agreement need to be completed by the parent or guardian. Campus tours are available. Admissions Coordinators can be contacted by phone or e-mail:

Talli Smith
Admissions Coordinator
(515) 287-9712
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Amy Stauffacher
Admissions Coordinator
(515) 287-9628
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Lori Dawson-Weeks
Director of Admissions
(515) 287-9615
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The Authorization for Release of Professional Information form must be completed for current and previous treatment or services providers and for all insurance and/or Medicaid. The form allows us to obtain records for the child and to contact insurance companies regarding benefits. Please complete one for each professional or agency who has worked with the child including the county DHS office (i.e. “Polk County DHS”) or Juvenile Court Office (i.e. “Warren County Juvenile Court”). They are considered the Health Care Provider and Orchard Place is the recipient. You may also sign a release at the office of the other treatment provider. Records can be faxed or mailed to us, please visit our contact page for details.

As you consider placing your child in a PMIC program, we suggest you contemplate the following:
• What are the credentials of the staff members who will be working with my child?
• What kind of background checks are done on staff members?
• How do staff members handle consequences for misbehaviors and behavioral emergencies?
• What kind of training does the direct care staff have?
• How often will my child see his/her therapist and psychiatrist?
• How will I be kept informed of my child’s progress?
• If a medication or dosage change is recommended, will I be consulted?
• What happens if my child’s behaviors become worse?
• What happens after my child is discharged?

 

State of Iowa PMICs

There are several Psychiatric Medical Institutes for Children (PMICs) in Iowa that children can be referred to:

 

The Children We Serve

Children appropriate for referral are 10–17 years old, have a psychiatric diagnosis, attempted treatment at lower levels of care and are expected to improve with intensive treatment. Children who are delinquent or severely developmentally delayed are not candidates for this treatment program. Children with a secondary diagnosis of chemical dependency may be referred.

Our program treats children with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and behaviors. Diagnoses include but are not limited to:

Behaviors include:

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. We ask that parents/guardians be involved in treatment, support placement and participate in family therapy once every two weeks.

The average length of stay for treatment is 6–12 months. Most children are able to return home after treatment. Our therapists assist the family when 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, outpatient therapy and remedial services. If the family lives too far away to commute or prefers another provider, the therapist will help the family access local providers.

Orchard Place is licensed annually by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and licensed to provide substance abuse services by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Orchard Place has been accredited by the Joint Commission since 1989.

Contact Us

Orchard Place Campus

925 SW Porter Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Phone: (515) 285-6781
Fax: (515) 287-9695 or (515) 287-9683

 

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Admissions Department Contacts

Shari Thompson
Orchard Place Principal
(515) 287-9703

Lori Dawson-Weeks
Director of Admissions
(515) 287-9615
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Talli Smith
Admissions Coordinator
(515) 287-9712
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Amy Stauffacher
Admissions Coordinator
(515) 287-9628
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Orchard Place residents attend school on campus?

Yes.

Is the Orchard Place Campus School affiliated with any school system?

Yes, the school is a part of the Des Moines Public School System.

What is a typical school day?

Students are assigned to homerooms based on grade level. There may be more than one grade level in each homeroom. Each homeroom has a teacher and an instructional associate. Students have regular class schedules including either art or PE. Instructional materials are adopted from Des Moines Public Schools. Students may go to another classroom for reading and/or math and usually remain with their homerooms the rest of the day. The day also includes instruction in social skills. The school day begins at 8:30 and students are dismissed at 3:05. They eat lunch from 12:00–1:00. Students are sometimes taken out of class for therapy and/or medical appointments.

Do students usually catch up if they are behind?

Students often make excellent academic progress at Orchard Place Campus School. We have small class sizes and teachers who have training and experience working with students with emotional, social, and behavioral difficulties. At the high school level, students can often add a class to each semester, making up two credits. Students can also earn credits in summer school. Making up more than one credit each semester is not impossible but would require considerable additional work for the student.

Does Orchard Place Campus School offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes?

We do not offer AP classes due to our small teaching staff and the requirements for teacher certification in AP courses.

How does Orchard Place Campus School decide what classes my high-school-age child will take?

Our teachers review each student’s transcript and compare the credits earned and courses completed to their home district’s graduation requirements. They often talk with students’ high school counselors. If a student is a senior, the teacher determines which school district (DMPS or the home school) will issue the diploma based on the courses and credits needed.

How does Orchard Place Campus School determine what classroom my child is in?

Placement is based on the student’s grade level and the grade’s class sizes. For example, there may be seventh-graders in more than one classroom and placement would be based on the number of students in each class and other factors. As of 2009 we have one elementary classroom, three middle school classrooms and five high school classrooms.

Is Internet usage monitored?

Yes. Teachers and associates monitor Internet usage by watching what students are viewing and also by checking the computers’ viewing history. In 2009–2010 high school teachers will be piloting a new computer program that allows them to view the students’computer screens from another computer and block specific Web sites. We will expand the program’s use next year if it works well.

Are there opportunities for students to work online?

Yes. We use the APEX program, a credit recovery program only online. We are a part of the pilot for this program with Des Moines Public Schools and will have high school teachers trained to use it.

Is there a student government or other activities to participate in?

There is nothing school-wide as of 2009. Teachers have independent programs in their classrooms.

How are behavior problems managed?

We have a systematic approach to behavior management utilizing Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), which is described in the Parent/Student Handbook. PBS is a district-wide program that encourages teachers to view behavior difficulties as teaching opportunities and teaches behavior expectations to students.

How is school avoidance managed?

Student behaviors (including school avoidance) that do not respond to the systems already in place are addressed individually. A ‘problem-solving’ meeting is held for any student who needs additional behavioral support or instruction. The meeting includes the teacher, therapist, unit worker, and interventionist. This team develops an individualized intervention plan based on the student’s pattern of behavior. These plans are revised as needed.

Is testing conducted for each student?

All students are assessed for reading, math, and written language when they enroll in school and when they are discharged. Additionally, student progress in reading is monitored every other week at the elementary and middle school level and IEP goals are monitored as prescribed on students’ IEPs. Ninth-grade students take an algebra placement test. We also complete all testing requirements for the Des Moines Public Schools, including the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) and ITED. 10th-grade students take the PLAN assessment developed by the Iowa Testing Service.

Would my child be allowed to take ACT/SAT if needed?

All eleventh-grade students take the ACT test free of charge. Other students may take the ACT and/or SAT if they register and pay the fee.

Is college preparation available if needed?

Course of study is determined on an individual basis. All high school credits transfer and count toward graduation.

What if my child is not special ed, but I think they should be?

Provide any supporting information you have from your child’s current school placement. The information will be reviewed by the child study team.

How will I be informed how school is going?

We have parent conferences in the fall and spring. Teachers also provide up-to-date information for students’ clinical staffing. You are welcome to call or visit the school if you have questions. Official report cards are completed every six weeks and mailed to the parents/guardians.

Will my child’s IEP be followed at the Orchard PlaceCampus School?

Absolutely! An IEP is a legally binding document and we have certified special education teachers at all levels at Orchard Place.

Do kids ever have to go off-campus? How do we decide if they should?

The referral for off-campus school comes from the student’s therapist, who states the rationale for placement. Input is received from the teacher and unit staff and options are discussed. Some situations that warrant off-campus placement include:

About Orchard Place Campus

Our Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children (PMIC) program is located on a beautiful six-acre, tree-lined campus on the south side of Des Moines. Children reside in structured and supervised treatment units. Orchard Place is the largest PMIC in Iowa and licensed for 103 children. Our four residential buildings are Jacobson Building (housing Jacobson House and Shiffler House), Aliber House, Bright House and Kenyon House. Our campus includes a fully accredited school, family services center, medical clinic, gymnasium and greenhouse.

The PMIC program provides intensive treatment for children with a serious emotional disturbance that makes them unable to function in their homes, schools and communities. Our goals are to:

Click here to see a slideshow of campus.

Treatment components include:

Our treatment units are co-ed and house 10–15 children per unit. Direct care is provided by Milieu Treatment Counselors (MTCs) who hold Bachelor’s Degrees in human services.Two shifts of MTCs 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 Master’s-level or above and our recreational therapist is licensed in her field.

Our teachers are employed by Des Moines Public Schools and our school is located on campus. Shari Thompson is the Principal of the Orchard Place Campus School and can be contacted at 515-287-9703 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Orchard Place Campus Substance Abuse Services

Orchard Place is licensed to provide 1–5 hours of structured substance abuse treatment per week for our PMIC clients, which means that Orchard Place is able to offer substance abuse services that are co-occurring with mental health needs.

Our substance abuse services initially start at admit. The clients are screened by their PMIC therapist who administers the CRAFFT, an adolescent specific substance abuse screening tool, to both the client and their caretaker. Pending the client’s score will determine if a further substance abuse evaluation is completed by a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). After this evaluation, recommendations are given.

All clients on campus participate in a 10-week Drug and Alcohol Awareness curriculum 2 times per year. A 10-week Substance Abuse Dependency group is offered two times per year for those clients who meet DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance abuse or dependency issues. Unit staff have utilized a Drug Urge Scale (DUS) and “take 5” on the milieu to help open up dialogue with the clients related to their experiences with and urges to use substances.

We have an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group that meets weekly (when there is a need) for clients to share similar experiences of once struggling with the use of substances. Orchard Place works closely with “Bridging the Gap,” an organization that helps clients find an AA group in their home community to help with discharge planning. Just Eliminate Lies/Students Against Destructive Decisions (JEL/SADD) meets bi-monthly to continue helping our clients have a voice in making positive choices for themselves. Rock n Prevention, along with a smoking education group, is offered once a year.

 

Staff Credentials

Vice President, Residential Campus and Special Projects

Orchard Place Campus School Principal

Orchard Place Campus Psychiatrists

Aliber House

Bright House

Jacobson House

Shiffler House

Kenyon House