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Inpatient mental health care

Welcome to Virginia Treatment Center for Children 

We provide round-the-clock inpatient care in a supportive environment, with the goal of stabilizing and safely transitioning children and adolescents back into their daily lives.

Our inpatient units provide individual rooms for patients, along with ample space for a family member to stay overnight with their child. VTCC boasts expansive outdoor areas featuring playgrounds, allowing patients to enjoy natural light. Children who participate in our educational services benefit from a dedicated classroom environment mirroring their regular school environment that helps facilitate comprehensive behavioral evaluation.

Our multidisciplinary approach involves close collaboration between experts in psychiatry, psychology, pediatrics, counseling, social work, nursing, pharmacy and other disciplines as needed. Coordinated care for children with acute needs includes:  

  • Crisis stabilization through behavioral and pharmacologic interventions
  • Comprehensive evaluations
  • Individual, group and family psychotherapy
  • Care coordination
  • Child life
  • Educational services
  • Family support
  • Nutrition services
  • Occupational therapy
  • Recreational therapy

We work with families and communities to ensure that children receive follow-up care and support services after leaving the hospital. The average inpatient stay is five to seven days. Inpatient care is available for children as young as three.  

An environment designed for healing and hope

We have transformed the mental health care environment from a typical institutional environment to an inspirational, light-filled, nature-themed facility.

Our inpatient facilities include: 

  • 32 inpatient rooms with private baths and accommodations for a family member to spend the night with their child  
  • Therapy mall for occupational, recreational, art, music and play therapy 
  • Inpatient K-12 school programs 
  • Dining hall for families and team members 
  • Half-court gym  
  • Outdoor playgrounds and recreation spaces 
  • Internal gardens 
  • On-site Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center  

Take a virtual tour of VTCC

Inpatient care: What to expect 

Our inpatient care is designed to meet the unique needs of each child and their family. This means we include:

  • Accommodations for you to spend the night in your child’s room 
  • Collaborative problem-solving 
  • Trauma-informed care to address the complex effects of trauma (separation, homelessness, violence, sexual abuse, etc.)  
  • Child psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, therapists, mental health partners and other team members who get to know each child 
  • On-site pharmacists who works with the physicians to manage medications 
  • Flexible visiting hours for families and loved ones 
  • Family participation throughout treatment  
  • Child life support to help children adjust to the hospital and understand treatment 

Visitation and spending the night  

Support from family and friends are a vital part of a child’s treatment. Parents/guardians are allowed to visit any time. Scheduled visitation hours are available for all other visitors and based on the individual needs of your child. Please check with your child’s nurse for more information. 

  • All adult visitors are required to sign in and out with the receptionist and must provide a picture ID. 
  • Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • We encourage you to be present as much as possible during your child’s hospitalization. 

Meals 

Nutrition helps feed a happy and healthy mind. Meals and a la carte foods are served in our cafeteria; you are encouraged to eat with your child. There is a small charge for parent/guardian meals. 

School program 

Children in the hospital can continue with their school work through our school program supported by the Virginia Department of Education. The program operates on a public school calendar with a limited summer program late June through August. 

The curriculum for each grade level is based on the Virginia Standards of Learning, but is individualized for each student and accommodates individualized education programs and Section 504 plans. All teachers in our inpatient education program are licensed and certified in special education with endorsements in emotional disturbance or learning disabilities. 

Contact VTCC 

Prior to inpatient admission, children must be screened by a qualified mental health professional. This can be the child's regular mental health provider or a screener in a hospital emergency room or community services board. After determining that inpatient care is needed, the screener will contact VTCC to arrange next steps. We admit children around the clock. 

 

Locations

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Meet the team

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Ekaterina Stepanova, MD, PhD
Ekaterina Stepanova MD, PhD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
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Jarrod Leffler, PhD
Jarrod Leffler PhD Psychology Read more
Alyssa Button, PhD
Alyssa Button PhD Psychiatry Read more
Paige Cervantes, PhD LCP
Paige Cervantes PhD LCP Psychology Read more
Michele Cosby, PsyD, LCP
Michele Cosby PsyD, LCP Psychology Read more
Deborah Crutchfield, PMHNP
Deborah Crutchfield PMHNP Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Read more
Sharalada D Daniels, LCSW
Sharalada Daniels LCSW Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Read more
Meghan Elizabeth Edwards, PMHNP
Meghan Edwards PMHNP Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Read more
Robert Findling, MD
Robert Findling MD Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Read more
Ashley Fisher, PMHNP-BC
Ashley Fisher PMHNP-BC Psychiatry Read more
Iveshia Ford, MMS, PA-C
Iveshia Ford MMS, PA-C Psychiatry Read more
Sage Hamashima, MSW, LCSW
Sage Hamashima MSW, LCSW Emergency medicine
Psychiatry
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Chanell Hudson, MSW, LCSW
Chanell Hudson MSW, LCSW Psychology
Psychiatry
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Kathryn L. Jones, MD, PhD
Kathryn L. Jones MD, PhD Psychiatry Read more
Mudit Kumar, MD
Mudit Kumar MD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
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Anh-Thuy Le, PhD, LCP
Anh-Thuy Le PhD, LCP Psychology Read more
Stella Lopez, PsyD
Stella Lopez PsyD Psychology Read more
Geetha Manikkara, MD
Geetha Manikkara MD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
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Kathryn Miles, PMHNP
Kathryn Miles PMHNP Psychiatry Read more
Sandra Mullen, PharmD,  BCPP
Sandra Mullen PharmD, BCPP Psychiatry Read more
Lauren Nutile, MD
Lauren Nutile MD Psychiatry Read more
Dorothy O'Keefe, MD
Dorothy O'Keefe MD Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Parna Prajapati, MD, MPH, FAPA
Parna Prajapati MD, MPH, FAPA Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Muhammad Raza, MD
Muhammad Raza MD Psychiatry Read more
Destiny Russell Gray, PMHNP
Destiny Russell Gray PMHNP Psychiatry Read more
Dimal Shah, MD
Dimal Shah MD Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Read more
Neil Sonenklar, MD
Neil Sonenklar MD Psychiatry Read more
Bela Sood, MD, FAACAP
Bela Sood MD, FAACAP Psychiatry Read more
Andrew Thompson, DO
Andrew Thompson DO Psychiatry Read more
Kaitlin Thurgood, LCSW
Kaitlin Thurgood LCSW Psychiatry Read more
Eric Trinh, MD
Eric Trinh MD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
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Carla Wall, PhD
Carla Wall PhD Developmental pediatrics
Psychology
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Jennifer Walter, PhD
Jennifer Walter PhD Psychiatry Read more
Stacy-Ann Wayne, MD
Stacy-Ann Wayne MD Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychiatry
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Allison Williams, PhD LCP
Allison Williams PhD LCP Psychology
Neonatal medicine
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Michelle Woolridge, LCSW
Michelle Woolridge LCSW Psychiatry Read more
Annie Wright, PhD, LCP
Annie Wright PhD, LCP Psychology Read more