At Capital Health, our CARES (Children’s Acute Rehabilitation and Evaluation Services) program is dedicated to delivering exceptional behavioral health diagnosis and caring treatment for children and adolescents in Trenton, New Jersey. We understand that some children require more specialized support than community resources alone can provide to thrive in social settings.
In partnership with the Center for Family Guidance, the Capital Health CARES program offers a lifeline to children aged 3 to 21. Our mission is to enhance their quality of life by accurately identifying significant emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric needs and addressing them with the most effective treatment options available.
The CARES program operates year-round, Monday through Friday, providing two distinct levels of care meticulously designed to meet the diverse needs of children and their families.
Comprehensive Care Levels at CARES Trenton
We offer two tailored programs to ensure every child receives the precise care they require:
Full-Day Acute Partial Hospitalization & Therapeutic Nursery
For younger children and adolescents needing intensive support, our Full Day program is available for children aged 5-14, along with a specialized Therapeutic Nursery for children aged 3-4. Operating during standard school hours, this program integrates intensive therapeutic and academic services seamlessly. Children engage in daily group therapy sessions focusing on crucial life skills such as building self-esteem, managing anger constructively, understanding and expressing feelings, developing social skills, improving focus and concentration, exploring family dynamics, and fostering teamwork abilities.
Each child is paired with a dedicated licensed clinician who provides weekly individual and family therapy sessions, ensuring personalized attention and progress monitoring. During the academic year, we provide one-on-one support from qualified teachers to help children keep pace with their schoolwork. To ease the burden on families, door-to-door transportation and nutritious meals are provided for most children participating in the CARES full-day program.
Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Our Outpatient program is designed for children and adolescents aged 5-21 who benefit from ongoing therapeutic support but do not require full-day hospitalization. Children in this program attend individual and/or family therapy sessions with a therapist approximately once a week. These sessions are focused on identifying and resolving challenges related to home, school, and social interactions. In addition to therapy, we offer group therapy sessions, monthly medication management (when necessary), and comprehensive psychiatric evaluations conducted by a psychiatrist or advanced practice nurse.
Is the CARES Program Right for Your Child?
The Capital Health CARES program can be beneficial for children who exhibit a range of challenges, including:
- Attention and Focus Difficulties: Struggles with maintaining focus and attention, potentially accompanied by hyperactivity.
- Low Self-Esteem: Lacking self-confidence and experiencing a poor self-image.
- Anxiety Disorders: Dealing with anxiety disorders such as social phobia, school phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or generalized anxiety.
- Mood Disorders: Suspected mood disorders including depression, bipolar disorder, or dysthymia.
- Oppositional Defiant Behaviors: Displaying oppositional and defiant behaviors like talking back to adults and showing disrespect for authority or property.
- Aggression and Abusive Behaviors: Exhibiting aggression or abusive behaviors such as frequent arguing, fighting, blaming others, or experiencing recurrent discipline issues at school.
- Emotional Distress from Life Stressors: Experiencing emotional problems stemming from abuse, violence, divorce, separation, step-parenting, substance abuse within the family, death of a loved one, abandonment, or other significant life stressors.
- Suicidal Thoughts or Self-Harm: Expressing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-abusive behaviors.
Our Expert Multidisciplinary Team
The Capital Health CARES Program is staffed by a caring and highly qualified multidisciplinary team. This includes trained counselors, licensed clinicians, experienced academic instructors, a registered nurse, an advanced practice nurse, and a consulting psychiatrist. Every member of our team is deeply committed to equipping children and their families with the essential tools needed to effectively cope with and manage the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.
| Age Groups | – Children |
|---|---|
| Health Services | |
| ##### Behavioral / Mental Health ##### Crisis / Safety | |
| Treatment Services | |
| ##### Out-of-Home Services ##### Outpatient Services | |
| Payment Options | – Medicaid |
| Language Spoken | – Spanish |
Last Updated: 05/15/24
For more information about the Capital Health CARES program in Trenton, NJ, and how we can help your child, please contact us today.
[
