Straith Hospital Launches Specialized Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit

The Practice

Straith Hospital in Southfield, an independent nonprofit, has inaugurated a specialized pediatric behavioral health unit designed to serve children and adolescents diagnosed with profound autism spectrum disorder and complex behavioral needs. This new 16,630-square-foot facility aims to bridge a significant gap in care within Michigan, particularly for individuals who have not found success in traditional outpatient services.

The Straith Behavioral Health unit provides a comprehensive, integrated care model, combining applied behavior analysis (ABA) with psychiatric and medical services under one roof. It features 12 inpatient beds, offering 24/7 care with individualized lengths of stay tailored to each child’s unique progress and needs. Beyond inpatient services, the program also includes a robust outpatient day program, operating six to eight hours a day, five days a week, ensuring a continuum of support.

Hospital officials emphasized that the unit was established to counteract issues like long waiting lists, inappropriate emergency room placements, and costly out-of-state care, which often result from a lack of specialized programs in Michigan. These traditional settings are not equipped to identify or address the underlying causes of severe challenging behaviors effectively. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that autism affects approximately one in 31 children in the United States, highlighting the widespread need for such specialized support.

Key Benefits

The Straith Behavioral Health Severe Behavior Program employs a multidisciplinary, hospital-based team that includes professionals in applied behavior analysis, nursing, psychiatry, medical services, and social work. This integrated approach allows for the simultaneous management of both behavioral and medical needs, delivering trauma-informed, individualized care across inpatient and outpatient levels. The environment is carefully structured to minimize unnecessary stimulation, manage risk, and promote consistency, predictability, and engagement during treatment.

A core benefit is the unit’s focus on data-based applied behavior analysis to identify underlying causes of severe challenging behaviors and teach adaptive skills as replacements. This therapeutic approach is crucial for promoting independence, improving socialization, and fostering self-advocacy and other developmental milestones. The facility also features specialized therapeutic treatment rooms designed to safely manage high-acuity behaviors while prioritizing learning, regulation, and skill development, alongside dedicated observation rooms for real-time assessment and data-driven decision-making.

Caregiver collaboration, education, and training are central to the Straith model, with teams working intentionally from admission towards discharge. This includes developing comprehensive continuity of care and transition plans to support each child’s safe return to home, school, and community settings. The establishment of Straith Behavioral Health was significantly supported by a $19.1 million grant from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association in 2023, enabling collaborations with institutions like The Autism Alliance of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, and Rutgers University.

Practical Applications

For BCBAs, RBTs, and clinic owners in Michigan and surrounding areas, the opening of Straith Behavioral Health represents a vital expansion of the continuum of care for individuals with severe challenging behaviors. This unit provides a specialized referral option for clients whose needs exceed the scope of typical outpatient ABA services, potentially preventing crises and enabling more effective, intensive intervention.

The integrated medical and psychiatric services alongside ABA offer a holistic approach that can inform behavior intervention plans and address co-occurring conditions more effectively. The emphasis on caregiver training and transition planning also provides a model for how intensive services can be seamlessly integrated back into community settings, promoting long-term success. This development underscores the growing recognition of the need for specialized, hospital-based behavioral health programs for complex autism cases, setting a precedent for other regions facing similar care gaps.

Fast Facts

Expert Perspective

“Our goal is to improve children’s quality of life and build meaningful, functional skills that support long-term success.”

Source: dbusiness.com