Need to Find a Psychiatric Day School

My 9 year old granddaughter has schizoaffective disorder. Her current
therapeutic school says it cannot address her needs. In fact, they
advised a potential summer program to reject her as inappropriate. What
we are now looking for is a hospital day school with psychiatric care,
as she is currently not yet stabilized on her medication.

We need to find a hospital-related facility with a day school so she can
continue with her schooling for now and the summer. We are in New
Jersey, but we can commute to neighboring states (NY, PA) if necessary.

We are aware of UMDNJ in New Jesey, but they do not have any immediate
openings available. Where can we turn so that my granddaughter may
have an appropriate educational setting? If we can not find a placement
before the summer, my daughter will have to give up her job to care for
her child. Does anyone have any information for us? Where do we turn?

Tom wrote:
> My 9 year old granddaughter has schizoaffective disorder. Her current
> therapeutic school says it cannot address her needs. In fact, they
> advised a potential summer program to reject her as inappropriate. What
> we are now looking for is a hospital day school with psychiatric care,
> as she is currently not yet stabilized on her medication.
>
> We need to find a hospital-related facility with a day school so she can
> continue with her schooling for now and the summer. We are in New
> Jersey, but we can commute to neighboring states (NY, PA) if necessary.
>
> We are aware of UMDNJ in New Jesey, but they do not have any immediate
> openings available. Where can we turn so that my granddaughter may
> have an appropriate educational setting? If we can not find a placement
> before the summer, my daughter will have to give up her job to care for
> her child. Does anyone have any information for us? Where do we turn?


I would first of all get a 2nd opinion. A child of 9 years in age
having schizoaffective disorder sounds ludicrous to me.

There are no brain tests for schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia.
The only way your granddaughter possibly has it is because a therapist
or psychiatrist has determined that she meets the DSM criteria. And
even then the person that diagnosed her may be biased, or incompetent.

The DSM also has no pathology involved. It's meant to fit a wide range
of behaviors, and the fact is humans are too unique in some cases for
the DSM to fit.

It's worth noting that in this day and age prophets, and many other
great individuals would be deemed schizophrenic of schizoaffective.

Don't let a label ruin her life. Focus on helping her, and getting to
the roots of her problems. I'm not convinced that a hospital will truly
help someone that young. She probably needs a lot more love and
attention from your family, and a grandfather to teach her what good men
should be like. I'm assuming her father is out of the picture.

Undiagnosed physical problems seem to often cause schizoaffective-like
symptoms. That's something you may want to explore as well.

I would also be very cautious about giving her anti-depressants or
anti-psychotics. Women with developing babies are warned not to use
these for a reason. They alter the brain chemistry and cause
developmental problems for babies, so just imagine what they could do to
a 9 year old.

If it seems that she is suffering from schizoaffective disorder, then
I would recommend talking with the local NAMI office. They should know
of any available programs.


George

Try NAMI (national allliance of the Mentally Il)

www.nami.org

mami helpline: 1-800-950-6264

penguin

Schzioaffective disorder is a myth. Psychiatrists who use this term magnify
the media as a way of describing past delusions.

Patrick Ashley Meuser"-Bianca"
Cyberneticist
http://www.usag-ac.info
"Tom" <tomadamsnj@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Q_6dnQuN2vrauIzVnZ2dnUVZ_tninZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> My 9 year old granddaughter has schizoaffective disorder. Her current
> therapeutic school says it cannot address her needs. In fact, they
> advised a potential summer program to reject her as inappropriate. What we
> are now looking for is a hospital day school with psychiatric care, as she
> is currently not yet stabilized on her medication.
>
> We need to find a hospital-related facility with a day school so she can
> continue with her schooling for now and the summer. We are in New Jersey,
> but we can commute to neighboring states (NY, PA) if necessary.
>
> We are aware of UMDNJ in New Jesey, but they do not have any immediate
> openings available. Where can we turn so that my granddaughter may
> have an appropriate educational setting? If we can not find a placement
> before the summer, my daughter will have to give up her job to care for
> her child. Does anyone have any information for us? Where do we turn?