Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
We are here to help if your child has a behavioral, emotional or mental health problem.Our pediatric psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and pediatricians develop a plan for your child and family. We work together to ensure your child receives the best care.
We provide a range of services, from consultations, evaluations and referrals, to ongoing support. This includes monitoring each patient’s mental and physical health, sleep, nutrition, eating habits and development. Psychiatry and behavioral health services include:
- Therapeutic Nursery Group offers treatment for children ages 3-6 who have aggression, impulsivity, non-compliance, tantrums and other disruptive behaviors. While children are in their therapy sessions, parents and caregivers also participate in group sessions for support related to their children’s behavior.
- Children’s Partial Hospitalization for children ages 7-13, who are experiencing emotional, psychological or behavioral difficulties at home, in school or in the community.
- Children’s Specialty Groups for children ages 7-12 address anger management, coping skills, social skills and self-esteem.
- Outpatient Behavioral Health Services include individual, group, and family therapy, as well as psychiatric evaluation and medication management. Specialty groups focus on promoting social and coping skills development.
- Emergency Psychiatric Services offer crisis intervention, assessments, and referrals for adolescents and children experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
Manage stress in a healthy manner
Develop social skills
Discover healthy communication
Feel supported after a traumatic experience
Develop or improve self-control
Develop an overall positive state of mind
Eliminate substance abuse, including opioid abuse
Our dedicated pediatric psychiatrists and clinicians treat:Anxiety
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Behavior issues
Depression
Eating disorders
Hallucinations (hearing voices)
Impulse control disorders
Mood and behavior disorders
Neurological conditions
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic attacks
Parent-child conflicts
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Problems with peer relationships and taking direction
Sadness or hopelessness
Stress-related disorders
Suicidal thoughts or actions
Emergency Psychiatric Services
In addition to our inpatient and outpatient services, we offer care for emergency situations. Tucked away in our emergency department, you can be assured your privacy is our priority. Our experts understand the importance of working with children and young adults in a comfortable and safe setting.New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC) Program
Hackensack Meridian Health in partnership with Cooper University Health Care and Atlantic Health System, has established the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC) across 20 counties in New Jersey.The NJPPC is a state-funded grant program designed to connect children and adolescents up to age 18 (or up to 21, if a patient is still being treated by a pediatrician) with pediatric behavioral health care consultation and referrals through NJPPC Hub Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists (CAPs) and behavioral health staff.
The model for NJPPC is consultative and aims at educating pediatricians while collaborating with them on managing these patients. It aims to improve the comfort and competence of primary care physicians and pediatricians to screen, identify and manage children with mild to moderate mental/behavioral health and substance use concerns. The NJPPC provides quick access to psychiatric consultation and facilitates referrals for accessing ongoing mental/behavioral health care.