Fighting for Answers | Author Archives | Page 148David's Father, Author at Fighting for Answers

PRTF Update and sadness

First, let me start by defining PRTF for our readers. Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. (PRTF) David is a resident at a PRTF about an hour north of our house. Today, we received notice that his stay there is coming to an end. The reasons that we were given: Hyperactivity is getting worse. Aggressive behaviors are increasing. Concerns: Behaviors are decreasing beyond what we can manage here. the psychologist says testing shows mental health needs are increasing. Reality levels are decreasing. Needs a residence with decreased stimulation. David is not benefiting from being at the facility. At this point, there are no facilities that we know of that can take our 12 year old boy. =========== To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. We are also very frustrated. They are licensed by the state to care for kids like David. Yet we are at this point. The nearest facility

when the boys grows up.

I am proud of all of my kids. My bride and I have five children, two girls and three boys. The girls have been driving for a while now. Today my two oldest boys started behind the wheel. That long dreaded day for any parent, and long dreamed of day for the teen. The oldest has had to fight for everything he has. He struggled to eat as an infant because of a cleft palette. He struggled to walk. He struggled to talk. He struggles to learn things that come so much easier to his peers. Today, he told me that he is nervous about driving. My instructions to both boys, since they are partners this week in Behind the Wheel, was that they needed to be considerate of each others skills. They need to remember that they both have strengths and weaknesses. And that they should be complementary, rather

PRTF placement update.

David was away from his residential Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. He was undergoing a med wash at another facility in our state. Since David is a special needs child, and was a special needs adoption to begin with, he is covered by Medicaid until he turns 18. In order to be placed in a facility, something called a certificate of need (CON) is generated periodically. Typically, 90 days. David’s latest CON is for 30 days. Why? Because while David was away from the facility we didn’t undergo family therapy. David has a number of diagnoses, including Reactive Attachment Disorder. Because of David’s birth history and prenatal care, he has a tolerance for medications. He builds up a tolerance very quickly. Any med will only be good for about six months. We learned this through experience, and explained this to the staff at the facility where he resides. As I stated,