From Dr. Austin O’Neal, KidsTLC Director of Behavioral Programming
As we step into the beautiful fall season, I am eager to share with you an exciting development taking place on KidsTLC’s campus, specifically in our psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF). Before I share what lies ahead, I want to set the stage by recapping where we have been…
Many children in KidsTLC’s residential program have endured intense traumatic experiences in the form of abuse, neglect or major family disruption. In 2011, KidsTLC began the journey of adapting a new philosophy of care, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), to provide a better treatment environment that meets the unique needs of those we serve. In 2019, our organization became the first
residential facility in the world to receive full DDP certification. This journey has instilled in us the healing powers of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) and how to incorporate these values into our work with children and families. We approach children through the lens of “what happened to you?” versus “what is wrong with you?” This approach allows us to provide a safe, nurturing environment conducive to creating healthy relational experiences that promote healing.
While in the process of adopting DDP as our philosophy of care, KidsTLC’s campus was expanding as we welcomed the Trellis Center in 2013. From the moment the Trellis Center opened its doors, KidsTLC began to address the growing need in our community for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment in a day-program setting for kids with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities. ABA is recognized across the medical community as the “gold standard” treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder and teaches the skills necessary to enhance and improve their overall quality of life.
As a behavior analyst, my experience prior to coming to KidsTLC was providing ABA services to children. When I first joined KidsTLC’s residential program in 2019, I was quickly drawn to the culture of DDP and PACE which was evident throughout the KidsTLC campus. While DDP and ABA are different, the similarities between the training I had received and the principles embodied in DDP were evident. Above all, we value the importance of relationships. Through both ABA and DDP, it has always been clear that the skills being taught to the children we serve should be taught in the context of a family and that the relationships we have with those around us matter the most. Much of the focus of both DDP and ABA is on teaching our children how to have safe and meaningful relationships…and sometimes, how to learn to
trust again.
I give you this brief history to announce the launch of the new Infinity residential unit at KidsTLC! This specialty unit will serve clients with autism spectrum disorders or other intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) who also struggle with co-occurring mental health challenges. Did you know, children with autism or IDD are among the most difficult to place in residential treatment settings and tend to
remain on waitlists for services longer than others? The high prevalence of mental health issues in the autism community, combined with limited resources and awareness of how to properly assist these children, has presented KidsTLC with a unique opportunity to build and share this resource with our community.
The therapeutic approach in the Infinity specialty unit will combine both ABA and DDP services to address and treat an underserved population of children in our community. These services will be delivered in a 1:1 child to staff ratio and will be overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). While the ABA components of the residential program are new, our clients will continue to receive the high quality DDP treatment provided by a licensed therapist to address their mental health challenges. As the new therapeutic approach grows and succeeds in a residential setting, we hope to use this as a launch pad to expand the footprint into other services areas at KidsTLC.
I hope you share my excitement for this new, innovative model of care. Most of all, I want to thank you for your support of our organization and the children and families we serve. Your involvement makes a meaningful impact, and we could not do this without you!