Residential Treatment Center (RTC)

Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center proudly operates a 75-bed Residential Treatment Center (RTC) program for male and female youth ages 9-18.

Program Details

Four separate living units are housed within this RTC, each with their own living areas and dedicated staff including the Lead Therapist/Therapist(s), Unit Director, and Mental Health Technicians. While all youth served in this program have at least one primary psychiatric diagnosis, many have several psychiatric disorders as well as other challenges such as mental retardation, physical or sexual abuse, neglect victimization, substance abuse problems, and/or co-occurring medical conditions. Many of these youth come to us with histories of serious high-risk behaviors such as attempts to self-harm, attempts to commit suicide, assaultive behavior, running away, etc. At Laurel Oaks we are proud to be able to successfully serve many children and adolescents who have been denied admission by other facilities and experienced failures in treatment in other settings.

Admission Criteria

The male or female youth is between the ages of nine (9) and eighteen (18) years of age and has been diagnosed with a primary psychiatric disorder that requires and is likely to respond to residential treatment (youth are assigned to separate living units within the RTC based on their age, and in some cases by gender as well).
Patients will exhibit a combination of the following criteria to the extent that treatment in a less restrictive environment is unsafe or unlikely to be effective, but NOT to the extent that inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization is medically necessary:
- Impaired contact with reality as manifested by hallucinations, delusions, ideas of reference, etc.
- Withdrawal, regression, or confusion
- Moderate to severe disabling depression, anxiety, and/or somatic symptoms
- Poor social and/or interpersonal skills
- Poor compliance with prescribed medications or other outpatient mental health treatment
- Inappropriate attention seeking behaviors and/or inadequate problem solving skills
- In need of 24-hour protective oversight and supervision (staff are on premises 24 hours per day on a day to day basis)
The youth has the physical capacity to complete the program and demonstrates willingness to participate in daily structured activities as addressed in the most recent treatment plan.
The youth may be dually diagnosed as having mild or moderate mental retardation, or substance abuse/dependence, as long as the primary diagnosis and treatment need is psychiatric.
The youth cannot be safely and effectively treated in a lower level of care

Services/Programs

Individual and Group Psychotherapy
Family Psychotherapy, including support and education of the family.
Group Psycho-Education including focus development on social, communication, and basic living skills (money management, laundering, housekeeping, personal hygiene, nutrition, etc.), and drug/alcohol education.
Basic Living Skills are part of the treatment focus, both individually and in a group setting based on the individual patient’s needs.
Daily Goal Setting and Goal Review Groups
Medication Administration and Management (when appropriate)
Milieu Treatment/ Therapeutic Environment to include Positive Reinforcement Programs/ Daily Reinforcing Event and daily social-recreational activities
Individualized Educational Services: Youth attend our certified private school 6 hours per day and receive academic credit that is transferable upon discharge Educational services include standard academic instruction, vocational readiness, physical education and recreation, art and music instruction
Special Educational Services (when appropriate based on youth’s I.E.P.)
Case Management including program and community orientation, assistance in applying for benefits, locating long term community placement in the least restrictive setting, and referral to the appropriate resource for those who may need a guardian while residing in the program will be provided by the client’s therapist and or Clinical Director
Recreational/Activity therapy

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

We cannot offer diagnosis, counseling or recommendations online, but an Assessment and Referral specialist is available 24 hours/7 days a week at 334.794.7373. If you are currently experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you prefer to contact us via email, please click here to fill out a request information form.