(S) The Stern Center

for Developmental and Behavioral Health

AUTISM SERVICES

Our Autism Services follow all  CASSP Principles. The Stern Center has been awarded a new contract from Allegheny County to treat (ASD) Autism Spectrum Disorders based on our superior best practice and quality care initiatives. Our Autism services include an array of treatment modalities, which our skilled clinicians individualize to client and family needs based on positive reinforcement principles. We have internal Functional Behavioral Assessment trainers, who teach and train in accordance with BAS (Bureau of Autism Services).

 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REHABILITATION SERVICES (BHRS)

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) or "wraparound" services follow all   CASSP principles and are provided to children and their families in the home, school, and community settings. BHRS can be prescribed by an independent Clinical Evaluator or Licensed Psychologist if deemed medically necessary. Final determination of medical necessity is assessed by the County Mental Health Department and Managed Care Company. If approved, BHRS can be authorized with various combinations of the following workers:

 

BHRS WORKERS

The (BSC)Behavioral Specialist Consultant leads the BHRS treatment team. The BSC observes the child in the home, school, and community. They coordinate treatment with various professionals involved with your child including school officials, medical professionals and case managers. They develop the treatment plan and behavioral plan based on the families needs, clinical observations and coordination with other services involved.

(MT)Mobile Therapist is a Masters Level Clinician. Mobile Therapy is an individualized counseling services that take place in the home, school, and community. Mobile Therapy services may include “talk therapy,” play therapy, or therapeutic game play. The mode of treatment is determined by the child’s age, and ability to communicate.

(TSS)Therapeutic Staff Support work on a one on one basis directly with the child in order to intervene/redirect problematic behaviors in the home, school, and community. TSS workers use interventions outlined in the treatment plan to address symptoms or behaviors associated with the following diagnoses: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and more.

We have independent clinical evaluators trained on all    CASSP Principles at each of our 6 offices. The Clinical Evaluator conducts a Childrens Comprehensive Evaluation to determine if or which type of service may be medically necessary. Once an independent evaluation is completed, the County Mental Health Department and Managed Care Company will assess the medical necessity and/or frequency of services needed for final authorization.

 

(FBMH) FAMILY BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Family Based Mental Health Services are team delivered, community based services that aim to provide services to the entire family. FBMH services follow all CASSP principles in Fayette and Greene Counties. The Stern Center provides specialized, trauma focused family based services. Our Family Based Mental Health Services program’s highest priority is to preserve the family unit by creating a safe and healthy family environment. We aim to prevent psychiatric hospitalization or out-of-home placement of a child or adolescent with emotional disturbances. When appropriate, the FBMHS program assists in reuniting families whose child or adolescent has been placed outside of the home. This will be accomplished by providing intensive treatment (2 or more sessions per week) as well as partnering with various other child serving programs and agencies that may be involved with the child and family. The Family Based team provides 24/7 around-the-clock crisis services. The FBMH team often links families to other supports and agencies within the community.

Our family based teams provide services to children and adolescents who have experienced many kinds of trauma. A trauma is a very stressful event that is outside the range of usual human experience. Trauma often involves a sense of intense fear, terror, and helplessness. Trauma can be: domestic or sexual violence, natural disasters, accidents, house fires, robberies, attacks by bullies, child abuse, divorce and abandonment, deaths of family members, friends, pets, etc. Every child can handle upsetting events in different ways. Sometimes, a child will go through the events until they are no longer disturbing or hurtful. Other times, instead of facing the memory, the child will push it out of the way. This can work for a while, but when the memory is not worked through, it keeps its disturbing power. The more the child avoids facing the memory, the worse it may become.

When children experience trauma or loss, you may notice some changes in personality or behavior. Their feelings can be expressed in many different ways sometimes ways that don't make sense to adults. This is common, and with time, the behaviors and feelings can fade as the child works through them. Children should be given the chance to talk about the feelings. If they are not, it may send the message that even adults are too afraid to talk about it. Sometimes, parents/guardians may be so upset that it's just too hard to handle the child in the best way. Therapy can help a child and a family work through the events and feelings, to prevent the same responses in the future.

Our therapists receive extensive training on trauma, abuse, and attachment issues so they can help children and families work through the events and feelings. Our Family Based Program Director and Clinical Team Lead are Certified Trauma Specialists. They have been certified thru the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists. They have completed extensive training in the field of trauma, abuse, and attachment.

In order to qualify for FBMHS, your child must have an independent Comprehensive Child Evaluation completed by a Licensed Psychologist or Clinical Evaluator. If the evaluation recommends that FBMHS is medically indicated, the County Mental Health Department and the Managed Care Company will assess the medical necessity and frequency for the final authorization of services.

 

MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Dr Ahmed Jahangeer MD is an Adult and Child Psychiatrist who provides medication management and therapy to Stern Center Clients. He sees patients at the Connellsville Office. Dr. Jahangeer did his specialized Psychiatry internship at the St Elizabeth Hospital at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He continued his Psychiatry Residency at Delaware Psychiatric Center at Temple University, and later completed a Child Psychiatry Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, which is located in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Jahangeer has worked at Excela Health system for 5 years and currently medical Director for Milestone Centers, Community Mental Health Center in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a Consultant for Adelphoi Village.

Dr. Jahangeer’s clinical interests include Mood Disorders, Disorders of Childhood, like ADHD, developmental and behavioral disorders and Anxiety spectrum of disorders.

 

OUTPATIENT THERAPY

Outpatient services are delivered in an office setting utilizing the latest approaches to alleviating symptoms of psychological disorders, behavioral challenges and stress related issues. The frequency of services is determined by way of collaboration with each individual and is based on clinical assessment of need. Frequency of services can range from weekly to monthly and may be adjusted to reflect treatment needs and progress. Our therapist will work with individuals and families to identify treatment goals and expected outcomes of therapeutic interventions. Therapy sessions are private and confidential.

Therapeutic approaches to treatment may vary based on the clinical background and expertise of each individual clinician. The Stern Center is dedicated to training and development of its staff. Treatment approaches may include: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Talk Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution-Focused, Marital Interventions, Attachment and Trauma models, Art Therapy and Group Processes.

Our Outpatient Therapists include a wide range of specializations, are across various ages, and we have both male and female to ensure your comfort. We also offer a wide variety of hours of appointment times to meet your individual needs including many after school hours appointments. To learn more about our Outpatient Programs or to schedule an appointment to a location nearest you please call 1-877-626-9941.

 

(PCIT) PARENT CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY

PCIT is an empirically supported treatment for children between the ages of 2 and 7 with disruptive behaviors and their parents. PCIT gives equal attention to the parent-child relationship and to parents’ behavior management skills. The goals of the program are to enhance parent-child interactions, improve child behavior, and empower parents to use consistent, predictable, effective parenting strategies in an Outpatient setting.

PCIT places emphasis on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns. In PCIT, parents are taught specific skills to improve the "playful" relationship with their child while increasing their child’s pro-social behavior and decreasing negative behavior. This treatment focuses on two basic interactions: Child Directed Interaction (CDI) is similar to play therapy in that parents engage their child in a play situation with the goal of strengthening the parent-child relationship; Parent Directed Interaction (PDI) resembles clinical behavior therapy in that parents learn to use specific behavior management techniques as they play with their child.

 The Stern Center's corporate office in Connellsville is currently completing the construction of a PCIT lab to recommended specifications. The PCIT "lab" consists of a play room, time-away room, and an observation room. The observation room has a two sided mirror to enable the therapist to "coach" the parent using a microphone/earpiece. This is a proven method of empowering parents and helping the parents regain control of strong-willed children.

For a summary of PCIT and information about the future research directions of PCIT see:  http://www.pcit.org/

Zisser, A., & Eyberg, S.M. (2010). Treating oppositional behavior in children using parent-child interaction therapy. In A.E. Kazdin & J.R. Weisz (Eds.) Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (2nd ed., pp. 179-193). New York:

 

STRENGTH BASED TREATMENT

The Stern Center for Developmental and Behavioral Health provides Strengths-Based Treatment Services (SBTS) for children and adolescents in Butler and Greene counties using       CASSP Principles. Strengths-Based Treatment Services are provided by a Mobile Therapist working in an expanded role that includes consultative and clinical case management services. Ordinarily, the Strengths-Based Therapist performs a three-week assessment under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist. Upon authorization of services following an Interagency Service Planning Team (ISPT) meeting, SBTS will consist of a twenty-four week period of treatment. SBTS may be authorized up to 6 hours per week. Two additional twelve-week authorization periods can be granted contingent upon medical necessity. Additionally, three non-consecutive, two-week "booster" sessions may be requested to stabilize the behavior of a child/adolescent within one year of successful discharge from SBTS.

This community-based service may be implemented prior to the discharge of a child/adolescent from more intensive services such as an RTF, Family-Based or Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services. These services also may be introduced when outpatient services are deemed as inadequate to meet a child's or adolescent's needs while BHRS or FBMHS are not medically necessary.