Services for Children & Adolescents
Pittsburgh Mercy offers many behavioral health programs and services to support children and adolescents in recovery, promote healthy decisions, and help them live well in the community.
We know that both mental health and behavioral health issues can significantly affect all aspect’s of a young person’s life and well-being. By intervening early with supportive, non-judgmental care, we are able to make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of their families.
Back-to-school is always a high-demand time for services. This year, it’s even more so given that many students have not been in a classroom for 18+ months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heading back to the classroom can create anxiety and other mental health concerns.
To ensure safety, we’ve been operating our partial and residential treatment programs at reduced capacity to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols and physical distance requirements. One thing that has not changed is our commitment to offer services to persons in need, regardless of income or insurance status.
Service options range from outpatient treatment and recovery services, to more intensive programs. Some of our services are available at school or elsewhere in the community.
Child & Adolescent Ambulatory (Outpatient) Services
Children and adolescents up to age 18 can receive a psychiatric evaluation, the appropriate types of therapy, and medications, if needed on an outpatient basis. We offer:
- Person-centered treatment planning and care
- Community-based, integrated behavioral and physical health care services
- Mental health screening and risk assessment
- Mental health evaluation and diagnosis
- Mental health support and treatment services
- Individual therapy
- Family/caregiver therapy
- Group therapy
- Play therapy
- Care management
- Intervention Services
- Medication management
- Office-based therapy
- Physical Health Services
- School-based services
- Service coordination and administrative service coordination
- Supportive counseling
- Treatment planning.
Child and adolescent outpatient services are offered both in-person and virtually at:
Pittsburgh Mercy
1200 Reedsdale Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-2109.
Pittsburgh Mercy also offers child and adolescent counseling and other behavioral health services to students in partnership with more than 40 schools in Allegheny County. We provide direct, on-site therapy services to students in their schools. Students miss only one class period per week. This makes it incredibly convenient for families, reducing transportation barriers and out-of-school time.
Baldwin-Whitehall School District
- McAnnulty Elementary School
- Whitehall Elementary
- W.R. Paynter Elementary School
- J.E. Harrison Middle School.
Brentwood School District
- Brentwood Middle School
- Brentwood High School
- Elroy Elementary School
- Moore Elementary School.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
- Pittsburgh Allegheny PreK-5
- Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8
- Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8
- Pittsburgh Arsenal K-5
- Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8
- Pittsburgh Brashear High School
- Pittsburgh Brookline PreK-8
- Pittsburgh Carmalt PreK-8
- Pittsburgh Carrick High School
- Pittsburgh Classical Academy 6-8
- Pittsburgh Clayton Academy 6-12
- Pittsburgh Grandview PreK-5
- Pittsburgh Greenfield PreK-8
- Pittsburgh King PreK-8
- Pittsburgh Langley K-8
- Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12 (University Prep)
- Pittsburgh Morrow Pre-K-4
- Pittsburgh Morrow 5-8
- Pittsburgh Perry High School
- Pittsburgh Phillips K-5
- Pittsburgh Schiller 6-8
- Pittsburgh Science & Technology Academy 6-12
- Pittsburgh South Brook 6-8
- Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8
- Pittsburgh Spring Hill K-5
- Pittsburgh Whittier K-5
- Pittsburgh Woolslair PreK-5.
Shaler Area School District
- Burchfield Primary School
- Marzolf Primary School
- Reserve Primary School
- Scott Primary School
- Shaler Area Elementary School
- Shaler Area Middle School
- Shaler Area High School.
For more information, please contact us at 1-877-637-2924.
Child & Adolescent Administrative Service Coordination
Child & Adolescent Administrative Service Coordination services are available to parents/caregivers who may need support and assistance in managing their child’s mental health needs.
Services include:
- Links to mental health resources
- Follow-up on the effectiveness of those resources
- Long-term support for parents.
Child and adolescent administrative service coordinators are also available to assist providers and families with accessing resources. We’re also available for consultation.
For more information, please contact us at 1-877-637-2924.
Child & Adolescent Short-Term Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (ST-PRTF)
Pittsburgh Mercy’s Child & Adolescent Short-Term Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (ST-PRTF) is a 10-bed, 24-hour, short-term psychiatric residential treatment program structured to provide behavioral modification, medication management, and emotional support to children and adolescents who have mental and behavioral health disorders. Our program treats children and adolescents ages 7 to 14 years old. The length of stay is up to 45 to 60 days.
Our Child & Adolescent ST-PRTF incorporates the utilization of Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) principles and evidence-based therapeutic interventions into the treatment of children served and their families.
The goal of ST-PRTF is to achieve stabilization in a clinical/therapeutic environment.
Located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, our Child & Adolescent ST-PRTF is the only program of its kind in Allegheny County. We offer services in a safe, supportive, and structured environment.
Our services include:
- Therapeutic intervention, including 26 hours of group therapy per week, family sessions, and individual sessions
- Case management
- Medication management
- Referrals for medication management, outpatient, and/or family based therapy for continuity of care.
Staff members are available on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The length of treatment can be up to 45 to 60 days, depending upon the child’s needs.
Referrals to this program must come from a mental health provider.
Our program is accredited by CARF International.
For more information, please contact the Child & Adolescent Short-Term Psychiatric Residential Treatment Program supervisor at 412-323-4598.
Child & Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program
A Child & Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (C-PHP) is a short-term day program for six to 18-year-old children and adolescents in grades K-12 who are experiencing significant distress and need more intensive treatment and support. A Partial Hospitalization Program may be able to help prevent a hospital stay or be used as a step between a hospital stay and return to the community.
Located at our Reedsdale Center on the North Shore, Pittsburgh Mercy’s Child Partial Hospitalization Program (C-PHP) offers:
- Individual therapy
- Family/caregiver therapy
- Group therapy
- Play therapy
- Three hours of training in education in a therapeutic classroom, Monday through Friday.
Children in grades K-5 are seen in the children’s program. Youth in grades 6-12 are seen in the adolescent program.
A child psychiatrist, therapists, and nurses provide evaluation, assessment, and monitoring.
The length of treatment averages 10-15 days, depending upon the child’s needs.
Referrals to this program must come from a mental health provider.
Our program is licensed.
For more information, please contact our Child & Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (C-PHP) intake coordinator at 412-697-3408.
Child & Adolescent Physical Health Services
From routine well and sick child visits to immunizations and school and sports physicals, Pittsburgh Mercy can take care of the physical and mental health care needs for every member of the family – birth through senior adults – in our South Side office or on our Mobile Medical Unit.
For more information, please visit our Physical Health page or contact us at 1-877-637-2924.
Child & Adolescent Targeted Case Management (Service Coordination)
We coordinate mental health services for children and adolescents from ages 3 to 18 (or up to age 21, if still in high school). To be eligible for this service, the child or adolescent must have a mental health diagnosis and receive – or have a need to receive – multiple services.
For more information, please contact us at 1-877-637-2924.