As a parent, you want the very best for your child. You also want support that works for your entire family’s needs.
At Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare, we provide mental health services designed specifically for children ages 9 to 12. If your child is experiencing anxiety, mood changes, behavior challenges, or difficulties at home or school, we’re here to help.
This guide explains the care options available for children, how to get started, and what to expect from assessment through treatment. We will also outline how evidence-based care and family involvement support your child’s behavioral and mental health, as well as their growth.
Prevention, Early Intervention, and Stigma Reduction
Identifying signs of emotional, mental, or behavioral distress early can be game-changing for your child’s life. However, for children ages 9 to 12, there is a wide variety of indications. Fortunately, nobody is better suited to notice the signs than a parent or loved one(s).
If you notice irregularities in your child’s well-being, sleep, appetite, school performance, increased irritability and worry, or isolation from friends and family, pay attention and reach for help.
Recognizing changes and seeking help accordingly has nothing to do with labeling your child. It’s about seeking timely interventions that match your child’s developmental and emotional needs. Assistance can improve your child’s functioning at home, at school, and in other public settings, and can be life-changing.
Now, let’s address stigma. Breaking negative stigmas surrounding treatment and challenges starts with language that treats mental health treatment like any other healthcare. You are always encouraged to explain what is happening to your child, why you are offering support, and to reinforce that needing help is not a weakness.
As for prevention, lifestyle changes and improvements can go a long way. Consistent routines, movement, nutrition, and sleep, alongside emotion and stress tolerance skills, can help your child manage naturally large emotions and feelings. Remember, behavior modification strategies work best when they’re compassionate, safe, and consistent.
If immediate safety is a concern, seeking a higher level of support is a protective step that can stabilize symptoms and create a supportive environment for recovery.
Access to Care and Resources
When families begin looking for child mental health services, they often want to know two things: where to start and what happens next.
The best way to start is by reaching out for an assessment. During this first step, caregivers share what they’re noticing at home, at school, and emotionally. At Aurora Charter Oak, our care team uses this information to understand your child’s needs better and recommend the appropriate level of support.
If you plan to use insurance, it’s also helpful to ask what services are covered, whether authorization is required, and what to expect during intake and scheduling. Families can also ask if a referral is needed and how quickly services can begin.
Ongoing support may include care coordination, follow-up planning, and connections to school or community resources. If psychiatric services are also part of the care plan, our team is happy to explain how medication management works alongside therapy and how progress is monitored over time.
Our goal is simple: remove confusion, provide a clear next step, and make sure care continues smoothly as your child’s needs change.
Types of Mental Health Services for Children
Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare offers a full continuum of mental health care for children ages 9 to 12.
By “continuum of care,” we mean a range of treatment options that help children receive the right level of support at the right time. Children can move or “graduate” into less-intensive services within the same system as their symptoms improve. That way, children can continue making progress without major disruptions in care, even as their level of treatment changes.
Inpatient treatment is the most intensive level of care. It is designed for children who are not safe at home or may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
Inpatient care provides close supervision and a focused treatment plan to stabilize symptoms. Services may include psychiatric care, medication management when appropriate, individual and group therapy, and psychoeducation. These supports help children and caregivers recognize triggers and early warning signs.
As stability increases, some children benefit from step-down programs that maintain structure while daily routines begin to return.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) offer several hours of care on scheduled days each week. These programs combine skill-building, therapeutic support, and family involvement. Children return home each day while continuing treatment.
Outpatient services support ongoing growth and may include therapy sessions, psychiatric follow-ups, and continued treatment planning that fits into school and family life.
Therapeutic Approaches and Modalities
There is no single therapeutic approach that works for every single child. Children learn, process, and regulate emotions in different ways. This is why the best mental and behavioral health care relies on a range of evidence-based approaches. At Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare, we use therapies that are developmentally appropriate, clinically sound, and evidence-based. Each child’s care plan is intentionally built using approaches that can support real progress in daily life. Therapeutic modalities may include:
- Individual Therapy to help children talk through emotions, worries, and challenges in a safe, private setting
- Group Therapy to practice communication, emotional regulation, and social skills with peer support
- Family Therapy and Family Sessions to strengthen communication, routines, and consistency at home
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions
- DBT-Informed Skills to support emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and impulse control
- Psychiatric Services for evaluation, diagnostic clarity, and medication management when clinically appropriate
- Psychoeducation to help caregivers understand symptoms, progress, and early warning signs
- Expressive Therapies, such as art, play, or music, to help children communicate emotions nonverbally
- Holistic and Regulation-Based Supports, including grounding skills, breathing exercises, and routine-building
Treatment Teams and Professional Staff
When a child is at Aurora Charter Oak, they’re supported by an entire team. Specifically, care teams include psychiatrists, nurses (RN/LVN/BHS), therapists, internists, a pharmacist, and a case manager. If needed, Chemical Dependency (CD) Counselors are also available.
A psychiatrist serves as the captain of each care team. These experienced medical staff members conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations daily and monitor progress, therapy, and medications.
In addition, our nurses and support staff work together to make sure your child feels safe, cared for, and understood throughout treatment. An internist and pharmacist are also available to support your child’s physical health and medication needs.
Highly skilled and licensed therapists provide both individual and group therapy as part of the overall treatment process. They are trained to teach children coping skills, work through challenges, and practice emotional regulation in age-appropriate ways.
Your child’s case manager also works closely with guardians to keep everything organized behind the scenes. Their support is essential. Families are often busy juggling school needs, transportation, insurance coverage, and stress at home. Case management can coordinate referrals, connect you to community resources, and support aftercare planning.
Ultimately, you should expect clear goals, consistent communication, and coordination from your treatment team.
Specialized Programs for Unique Needs
Every child is different, and you can expect effective mental health to reflect that fact.
At Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare, treatment plans are individualized to support each child’s developmental stage, emotional needs, learning style, and daily environment.
Some children face more than one mental or behavioral challenge at the same time. When this happens, co-occurring services enable the care team to address the whole picture rather than treating symptoms in isolation. This integrated approach helps create clearer goals and more consistent progress across settings.
Care plans can also take into account factors such as family stressors, sensory needs, and school expectations. When care is coordinated, follow-up appointments tend to be more effective because coping strategies, routines, and expectations stay aligned.
Some families are also navigating complex systems like custody changes, child welfare involvement, or foster care placement. In these situations, coordinating with the Department of Child and Family Services, our caseworkers, and other community partners can reduce miscommunication and support continuity.
Support for Families and Caregivers
While caring for a child is essential, supporting the family as a whole is just as important.
At Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare, part of our job is to equip caregivers with the tools and confidence they need. When caregivers feel supported and prepared, children are more likely to practice skills, ask for help earlier, and continue making progress in everyday life. That support benefits everyone.
Once treatment is completed, we will also not leave you stranded. Case management can also help connect families to community and school-based resources that reinforce coping skills beyond treatment.
Every child deserves compassionate care, and every family deserves support along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are child mental health services?
Child mental health services provide support to help children ages 9 to 12 manage emotional, behavioral, and social challenges that interfere with daily life. At Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare, services may include assessment, therapy, family sessions, psychoeducation, and psychiatric services when clinically appropriate.
How do I know if my child needs professional help or if it’s a phase?
If symptoms last more than a few weeks, intensify over time, or disrupt school, friendships, sleep, or family life, it’s worth getting an evaluation. Warning signs can include frequent meltdowns, persistent sadness, high anxiety, refusal to attend school, aggression, or major changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
What happens during the first assessment or intake?
You’ll discuss your child’s symptoms, recent changes, stressors, medical history, school concerns, and any safety issues. Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare uses this information to recommend the right level of care and outline next steps for treatment, scheduling, and family involvement.
What types of programs are available for children ages 9 to 12?
Depending on your child’s needs, Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare may recommend inpatient treatment for safety and stabilization, or outpatient mental health services for ongoing support. Some children may benefit from more structured programming like partial hospitalization (PHP) or intensive outpatient (IOP) when symptoms are significant, but round-the-clock care isn’t needed.
Will my child receive medication?
Not every child needs medication. If medication management is considered, a psychiatrist will evaluate your child, review risks and benefits, and discuss options with you. Medication decisions are typically paired with therapy and skills building, not used as a standalone solution.
How are parents and caregivers involved in treatment?
Caregivers are often involved through family therapy, family sessions, and caregiver coaching that builds practical tools for home. Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare may also support aftercare planning and case management to help families follow through with services and school supports.
Does insurance cover child mental health services?
Coverage varies by plan. It’s helpful to ask your insurer about behavioral health benefits, prior authorization requirements, and covered levels of care. Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Healthcare can also advise you on the information typically needed to verify insurance coverage and start services.
