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“Explorer” program addresses severe behavioral challenges stemming from traumatic events
OREFIELD, PA (August 25, 2020) – KidsPeace has launched a new program to serve teens who, because of significant traumatic events in their lives, have more severe behavioral challenges than those normally addressed in traditional psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) programming.
The new program, called “Explorer PRTF,” is designed to provide the youth a safe and supportive environment in which to concentrate on development of appropriate social skills and emotional responses, to combat the chronic debilitating health effects they experience as a result of their trauma.
The Explorer program currently treats males 13-18 years of age, and was developed in collaboration with
Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania. The program is operating at KidsPeace’s Orchard Hills Campus in Lehigh County, PA.
KidsPeace officials note that Explorer offers an enhanced level of treatment that is more intensive than traditional residential programming, and can also be a vital step down from short-term inpatient psychiatric settings like KidsPeace Children’s Hospital. It’s an option that is in increasing need in its service area right now, according to KidsPeace President and CEO Michael Slack.
“Together with Magellan, we recognized that because of the acute nature of their challenges, these youth needed a different kind of treatment that was not readily available in Pennsylvania,” Slack said. “It’s very much in line with our mission of Hope, Help and Healing to establish the Explorer program as part of KidsPeace’s Continuum of Care in mental and behavioral health.”
Tara Karbiner, the clinical director for Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, said the new program will help its member youth who are struggling in existing programs.
“Explorer is a great addition to our network to serve the needs of adolescent males who typically have required out-of-state placements to meet their needs,” she said. “The Explorer program is offering enhanced clinical services, small staff-to-member ratio, and a treatment approach that incorporates trauma-informed and clinical best practices for addressing aggression – all of which will lead to better outcomes for the members and their families.”
Slack also noted that Explorer is the first new program KidsPeace has launched since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have said consistently that COVID has not eliminated the suffering of our kids or their need for our services. That’s why we’re proud that while we continue to respond to the pandemic’s challenges in all our programs, we also are moving forward with enhancing our offering with programs like Explorer,” he added.
The Explorer program began accepting referrals in August. For more information about referring youth into the program, please call 1-800-854-3123 and ask for Residential Admissions.
About Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, Inc.:
For more than two decades, Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania, Inc. has been managing behavioral health services for HealthChoices members. During this time, Magellan has worked closely with its partners–Bucks, Cambria, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton counties; individuals; providers; and local communities. We are proud of the innovative efforts that have helped to increase access to care, improve service use rates, expand the continuum of services in alignment with evidence-based models, and maximize clinical appropriateness and quality services. For more information, visit www.MagellanofPA.com.
About KidsPeace:
Since 1882, KidsPeace has been building on its expertise to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them. Through its comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; unique psychiatric hospital and foster care and community-based programs, KidsPeace is dedicated to helping people connect, transform and overcome their challenges to ensure a stable future, transition to adulthood and gain independence. Since its doors opened, nearly 300,000 children have participated in one of the multitude of programs KidsPeace offers.
For additional resources or more information on how to get involved, become a foster parent or make a donation, please visit www.kidspeace.org. Follow us at www.facebook.com/kidspeace.org or on Twitter @KidsPeace.
Information Provided By:
Robert Martin
Director of Communications
