Mental Health

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION?

If you have concerns about your child's behavioral development, please call our office and a health coordinator will discuss your concerns and gather information that will be used to determine how we can best help your child. If a Behavioral Evaluation with one of our providers is needed, the health coordinator will schedule this visit for you and provide you with assessment tools if necessary.

ADD/ADHD 

Assessment tools for Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that may be assigned to you include:​

• Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
• Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial

If assigned, please:

• You will receive the forms via your child's patient portal
• Teacher Assessments will be sent via email to complete. Please obtain your child's teacher's email address and let him or her know to expect an email our practice regarding your child's assessment

DEPRESSION 

Assessment tools for depression that may be assigned to you include:

• Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9)

If assigned, please:

• You will receive the forms via your child's patient portal
• Your child will need to complete both assessments​

WHAT TO EXPECT AT A BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION

On the day of your child's behavioral evaluation, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Ideally, your child should eat a nutritious meal prior to the appointment and be well-rested.

Both you and your child will then meet with the provider who will perform a thorough assessment and develop a behavioral health management plan for your child. Our providers may recommend additional counseling to best serve your child.

If the provider prescribes medication, he/she will want to follow up with your child within 21 days to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled. A patient coordinator will schedule this appointment with you before you leave the office.
 

ONGOING MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

After your child's initial evaluation, if medication is started, your child must be seen within 21 days in order to continue the medication. If your child is doing well with his/her medication, subsequent appointments will be scheduled every 3-6 months. If a medication or dosage change is needed, your child must be seen within 1 month to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled.