Texas Children’s Hospital is excited to announce the opening of our new intensive outpatient programs (IOP) at two locations in Bellaire and The Woodlands. The program will serve adolescents and teens who do not require hospital admission but need a higher level of care than what traditional weekly psychotherapy offers.
The Bellaire IOP, which opened in June below our Specialty Care clinic at West Loop South, is a scaled-up version of the IOP in The Woodlands that opened in March. Ovintiv, a leading North American energy company, donated $4.8 million to fund The Woodlands IOP. Bellaire is funded through several donors in the community.
Meeting a growing need
Opening the IOPs marks our latest expansion of mental and behavioral health services as we combat an unprecedented pediatric mental health crisis. Texas Children’s has seen a 740% increase in behavioral health visits to our emergency centers over the past five years, rising from 618 encounters in FY 2018 to 5,182 in FY 2023.
“No matter how many beds we build, no matter how many programs we open…it hasn’t been enough yet,” said Chief of Psychology Dr. Karin Price. “I think that’s why, as a system, we’re trying to be very thoughtful and strategic about where in the community we’re providing services.”
Designed for patients struggling with chronic suicidal thoughts, self-harm, emotional regulation difficulties, family conflict and more, the IOPs can also serve as “step-down” care after discharge from a hospital. Services are individualized, family-centered, evidence-based and outcomes-driven. Only a handful of these programs exist in Houston, and Texas Children’s is one of the few that will take all forms of insurance and serve families regardless of their ability to pay.
“In addition to psychiatric evaluation and medication management, the IOPs offer various modalities of therapies…we have a robust program and a multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing a wholesome, holistic approach to behavioral health care,” said Chief of Psychiatry Dr. Kirti Saxena.
The program’s in-person sessions are four hours per day and multiple days per week, and utilize individual, group and family therapy, as well as art, music and mindfulness-based interventions.
Right care, right time
Until recently, a visit to the emergency center was the primary way for Texas Children’s patients in crisis to access mental health care.
Thanks to the work and planning of our behavioral health task force, the IOPs are just one part of a multifaceted approach to expand access to care and address mental and behavioral health issues as early as possible. This includes embedding behavioral health clinicians into all Texas Children’s Pediatrics locations across Houston and Austin, training frontline pediatricians and patient observation assistants, enhancing safe treatment spaces and more.
“We’re focused on running toward the problem…the goal is to immediately connect a child with a therapist instead of scheduling an appointment later,” said Executive Vice President Dan DiPrisco. “Getting children the help they need as soon as possible is critical to addressing mental health challenges.”
Please join us in celebrating this exciting milestone in our journey to expand mental and behavioral health services at Texas Children’s! See below for photos of the IOP spaces and ribbon-cutting events.
