FAQ
We want to make the admission process and residential stay as easy as possible,
so here are some of the questions that we are asked regularly. If you have any
additional questions that are not addressed on this page, feel free to contact
us at the number provided above.
General Information
Where is Columbus Behavioral Center located?
Do you offer acute stabilization?
Do you offer free assessments?
What is your mission/vision?
Are you accredited?
Admissions
What programs do you offer?
What are the differences between PRTF and CCI placements?
Do you accept private insurance? If so, how much will they pay?
How can I get my child in the program?
When I make a referral, what information do you need?
How are most adolescents referred?
Do you take sexual offenders?
What are the IQ requirements?
What documents do I need to bring on the day the child is admitted?
Do you offer free assessments?
During the Adolescent's Stay
What does my child need to bring?
How long is the average stay?
What schedule does my child follow?
What is my involvement as a parent/guardian?
Do residents get passes to spend time with their families?
What therapies will my child receive?
How is the staff trained?
Is treatment kept confidential?
What are the rules and days for phone calls and visitation?
What kind of education program do you provide?
How are the meals and nutritional needs handled?
Will my child be able to go outside?
How often will my child and our family talk to a therapist?
How will we be kept informed of my child's progress?
Upon Discharge
How does my child graduate from your facility?
How does discharge planning work?
What happens when my child leaves your facility?
What if my child needs help after they leave?
General Information
Where is Columbus Behavioral Center located?
Columbus Behavioral Center is situated on a 6.2 acre campus in Bartholomew County
in Columbus, Ind., 45 miles south of Indianapolis on I-65. CBC is centrally
located between Indianapolis (45 minute drive), Louisville (1 hour drive), and
Cincinnati (1 ½ hour drive). For specific driving directions, please
see the directions page of our website.
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Do you offer acute stabilization?
Our facility specializes in residential treatment, so we don't have acute stabilization
services at our facility. We maintain close relationships with Valle Vista Health
System and Meadows Hospital, both of which offer acute hospitalization services.
You can call Valle Vista in Greenwood (800-447-1348) or Meadows in Bloomington
(800-972-4410) at any time to receive additional help.
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Do you offer free assessments?
Our facility specializes in residential treatment, so we don't have free assessment
services at our facility. We do have close relationships with acute hospitals
Valle Vista in Greenwood (800-447-1348) or Meadows in Bloomington (800-972-4410)
which offer free confidential assessments for all ages.
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What is CBC's mission/vision?
Mission Statement
Columbus Behavioral Center is a residential treatment facility committed to
enhancing the mental health of children and adolescents by implementing quality
therapeutic, behavioral and medical interventions. As an ethically and fiscally
responsible organization, we strive to serve residents, their families and the
community by providing a safe and compassionate environment in which healing
can occur.
Vision Statement
To be a premier provider of residential mental health services for children
and adolescents, demonstrating positive patient outcomes and family-centered
care.
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Are you accredited?
We are accredited by JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations. You can learn more about JCAHO at www.jointcommission.org.
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Admissions
What programs do you offer?
When a child is admitted into our program, our admissions staff places the child
into the program that best meets their needs and eligibility. For children on
Medicaid, there are specific criteria that must be met to have a residential
benefit. We accept males and females ages 10 to 18 into this program. In addition,
we offer the Sunflower Program for girls ages 10 to 18 who are placed by the
Departments of Child Services, Probation, or Education.
Some private insurance programs will pay for residential services. Contact our
Admissions department for specific eligibility requirements for each program.
When the child joins their program, they are then matched to a therapist and
the groups that deal with their treatment goals, such as chemical dependency
groups, body image, etc.
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What are the differences between PRTF and CCI placements?
PRTF stands for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility and is the designation
used by Medicaid for residential placements that Medicaid funds (also referred
to as Rule 11 placement). At our facility, we accept males and females ages
10 to 18 into this program. In addition to qualifying for Medicaid, a child
must meet the five criteria mandated by Medicaid for psychiatric residential
care:
- Mental disorder is rated severe or complex
- The individual's behavior has disrupted a prior placement
- Family functioning or social relatedness is seriously impaired
- Repeated failure of acute care and/or lower levels of care
- Must exhibit threat to self or others
A CCI placement is a designation by the state that stands for Child-Caring Institute
(also referred to as Rule 9 placement). The residents on this unit are funded
by the county through the Department of Child Services, the probation/court
system, or the Department of Education.
At our facility, this program is called the Sunflower Program and is specifically
for girls ages 10 to 18. Lastly, we accept private insurance that has a residential
benefit as well. This can often be confusing to determine, so please contact
our Admissions department to determine eligibility for the various programs
and for a recommendation on your options.
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Do you accept private insurance? If so, how much will they pay?
Yes, we accept private insurance. Each company differs on what they will cover,
how long, and the benefits, so please call our Admissions department to determine
what the residential benefit is for your insurance provider.
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How can I get my child into the program?
The best thing to do is contact Michelle Orr in our Admissions department at
800-562-5213 to discuss the specific details of your child, our bed availability,
and the next steps needed to get the child enrolled.
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When I make a referral, what information do you need?
When you have spoken to someone in our Admissions department, they will ask
you to fax information regarding the past six to nine months of treatment for
the adolescent. This includes the following information: a recommendation letter
from a psychiatrist, IEP/IQ, immunization records, outpatient records, and patient
history including treatment plan, physical and psychiatric assessment. This
information can be faxed to (812) 314-3718.
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How are most adolescents referred?
Our referrals come from a variety of sources. Sometimes parents are concerned
about their child, so they contact us directly. In addition, we often get referrals
from case workers, probation officers, and other supportive agencies in the
child's life. Most of our residents come directly from an acute stay at a psychiatric
hospital because they need extra time to learn the necessary skills and to address
their issues before going back to a less restrictive environment.
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Do you take sexual offenders?
Yes, we have children who have a history of acting out in a sexual manner. These
children are monitored closely for such behaviors and will receive therapeutic
support to address this issue. However, if a child has an extensive history
of acting out sexually, the child would be better served by a facility that
specializes in this issue.
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What are the IQ requirements?
In order to benefit from our program, a child needs to have a minimum IQ of
70 as determined by psychological testing. If the child's IQ is below 70, he
or she would be better served at Damar or Options in Indianapolis.
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What documents do I need to bring on the day the child is admitted?
When the child is admitted, please bring with you contact information, immunization
records, proof of guardianship, a driver's license and your insurance card.
Do you offer free assessments?
Our facility specializes in residential treatment, so we don't have free assessment services at our facility. We do have close relationships with acute hospitals Valle Vista in Greenwood (800-447-1348) or Meadows in Bloomington (800-972-4410) which offer free confidential assessments for all ages.
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During the Adolescent's Stay
What does my child need to bring?
When your child arrives at our facility, he or she will meet with a nurse or
mental health technician who will check in belongings to ensure they don't get
lost during the resident's stay.
A complete list of allowable items is included in the handbook that you and
your child will receive on the first day. The basics are:
- Up to five pairs of pants or shorts
- Five T-shirts and five regular shirts (not tight or short)
- Seven pairs of underwear
- Two sweatshirts, sweaters or hoodies
- Three bras (no underwire)
- Seven pairs of socks
- Two pajama sets
- Two pairs of tennis shoes
- One coat, a pair of gloves and a hat
- Clothing with drug, alcohol, satanic, violent, gang, or sexually inappropriate
themes are not allowed.
- Certain books, toiletries and personal items are also
allowed, so please check the handbook for more details.
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How long is the average stay?
Our average length-of-stay is currently 150 days. The amount of time a child
stays depends greatly on the child's and family's needs and willingness to work
through the program.
Columbus Behavioral Center is structured as a three-month program if the child
continues to make positive choices and advances through his or her levels.
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What schedule does my child follow?
At Columbus Behavioral Center, we know that structure is important in a child's
life. We have a schedule that residents follow, but also allow enough free time
to encourage individual expression.
Residents attend school Monday through Friday for a half day. They also participate
in group therapy, life skills, psychoeducational groups, and activity therapy
daily, and see their therapist for a session every week.
If you would like a detailed schedule, just ask admissions when your child arrives.
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What is my involvement as a parent/guardian?
You are a key component in your child's life and are therefore crucial to the
success of his or her treatment efforts. As part of your signed agreement upon
placement, you will be responsible for attending family therapy sessions twice
a month and Parent Day one Saturday per month (your child's therapist will tell
you which Saturday it falls).
In addition, depending on their behavior each week, residents are given therapeutic
trial visits, or TTVs, that allow them to spend time outside of our facility
to work on their relationships within their family. Visitation and phone calls
are additional ways that you can stay connected with your child and let them
know that you support them.
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Do residents get passes to spend time with their families?
Depending on their behavior each week, residents are given therapeutic trial
visits, or TTVs, that allow them to spend time outside of our facility to work
on their relationships within their family. These are decided weekly by the
child's treatment team and are affected by any precautions that the child is
placed on (such as assault precautions). Each week your child's therapist
will let you know the number of TTV hours that your child received.
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What therapies will my child receive?
When your child enters the program, he or she will meet with a therapist within
72 hours in order to create an individualized treatment plan. This plan will
be used as the basis of treatment throughout the child's stay.
Each week the therapist and resident work together to check off goals that have
been achieved and create new goals. Therapists work to create a trusting relationship
with each child and then use cognitive-behavioral and other methodologies to
best meet the needs of both you and your child.
In addition to individual and family sessions with a therapist, residents go
to groups three times a week with a therapist, three times a week with a chemical
dependency-certified therapist (if necessary), and attend daily psychoeducational
groups with trained mental health technicians.
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How is the staff trained?
Columbus Behavioral Center works hard to ensure that a talented, well-rounded
group of professionals is available to meet the needs of our residents. The
facility employs psychiatrists, medical doctors, a certified nurse practitioner,
Registered Nurses, master's-level therapists, nutritionists, activity therapy
staff, teachers, and others who are committed to helping each child that enters
our doors.
Direct-care staff receives 68 hours of initial orientation training and 32 hours
of formal training per year.
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Is treatment kept confidential?
Yes, treatment is kept confidential. At admission, the guardian is asked to
sign release of information forms for those who can receive copies of reports
from us. In addition, we also issue a numerical code for you to use when you
call your child. Only those people you have added to the phone and visitation
lists and have the code can contact your child.
We strictly follow all HIPPA regulations which protect patients' and their families'
confidentiality.
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What are the rules/days for phone calls and visitation?
Residents are able to make phone calls three times per week according to their
schedule. When the child is admitted, you will receive a list of the days your
child can call you depending on their bed assignment. Caseworkers, probation
officers, and other social service agency personnel who are involved in the
resident's case are able to call into our facility, but in general, parents
need to let their children call them.
If you have an emergency or a special circumstance that necessitates a phone
call, this can easily be arranged through the child's therapist. Staff monitors
all calls for the duration of the call and for safety purposes.
The phone call lengths are determined by the resident's level. Visitation is
on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Up to four family members may
attend visitation at a time. There are also special visitation hours during
holidays, and your child's therapist will notify you about these times.
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What kind of education program do you provide?
Upon admission, each child is assessed to determine their academic levels and
special needs. We make every effort to accommodate the diverse needs of our
population, including students with IEPs.
Our multi-age academic instruction is based on the curriculum standards for
Indiana; we facilitate the transition back to their home county school upon
discharge. We have an education director and two teachers on staff, including
a teacher who is certified in special education. Our teachers are part of the
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, so the child's credits transfer
to their home county school when they are discharged.
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How are the meals and nutritional needs handled?
Our cafeteria provides balanced meals daily. They are specifically designed
by our dietician to meet the needs of adolescents.
Each day residents are offered an alternative selection in addition to the main
meal. Meal plans are posted around our facility and are available upon request.
Dietary restrictions and variations are all accommodated as necessary.
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Will my child be able to go outside?
Yes, we have a fenced-in area at our facility that includes a full basketball
court, playground equipment, an outdoor group area, and a large area for sports.
In addition, residents on higher levels are eligible for community outings with
staff members - these have included trips to the park, bowling, swimming, museums,
etc.
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How often will my child and our family talk to a therapist?
When your child enters the program, he or she is assigned a therapist. Your
child and/or your family will meet weekly with that therapist for individual
or family therapy. Family therapy is required at least two times per month.
In addition, therapists are available throughout the week if you need to call
with any additional information or questions. Our therapists interact with the
residents in a variety of ways throughout the week, including groups three times
per week with residents and the ability for the child to request to speak with
a therapist when needed.
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How will we be kept informed of the resident's progress?
If you ever have any questions about a resident, feel free to speak with the
child's therapist to learn more about his or her therapeutic progress. At family
sessions, you will be able to review the resident's treatment plan and sign
off on monthly treatment updates. In addition, nurses on the unit can answer
any medical questions that you may have, such as regarding medications, doctor
visits, etc. If you are a referral source, you will be faxed a monthly summary
of the child's progress if you are included on the release of information signed
by the guardian, but can also contact the therapist for more information.
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Upon Discharge
How does the child graduate from your facility?
As the resident progresses in treatment, he or she advances through the level
system. This is determined by the child's treatment team, therapist, and behaviors
on the unit each day. Upon reaching the level gold, the child is eligible for
graduation from the program. When a child graduates, they receive a cake and
a certificate of completion. Usually the resident won't know the precise discharge
date until a couple of days before, but guardians and other adults involved
in the child's discharge will be informed well in advance.
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How does discharge planning work?
Throughout the child's stay discharge planning is continually evaluated. When
our treatment team determines a resident is ready, a discharge plan is organized.
Upon discharge, the therapist sets up appointments for the child and the family
with key outpatient treatment providers. It is important for these adolescents
to continue their treatment to ensure a successful transition to a lower level
of care.
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What happens when the child leaves your facility?
Discharge plans vary depending upon the needs of the child, with family reunification
being our primary goal. The resident's psychiatrist and treatment team, along
with his or her family and other support agencies, will help identify the best
discharge option. Upon discharge, the therapist sets up appointments for the
child and the family with key outpatient treatment providers.
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What if the child needs help after they leave?
Residents are often able to return home to their normal lives having learned
ways to cope better with everyday stressors. For some children, difficult issues
continue to impact their lives and they could need additional help. Feel free
to call us in this situation, and we can help you determine the next steps in
your child's treatment.
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