Preferred Deaf Behavioral Health Treatment Program

Deaf Connections at Little Creek offers long-term residential care for children and adolescents ages 6-17 whose lives have been impacted by a variety of mental and behavioral health challenges. Our psychiatric residential facility for children and adolescents in Conway, Arkansas, includes a specialized treatment track for young people who are deaf or have partial hearing loss.

All admissions decisions within Deaf Connections at Little Creek are made on an individual basis following a close review of each young person’s history and needs. In general terms, this specialized treatment track accepts young people who meet the following criteria:

• Must be between the ages of 6 and 17 (patients may remain in treatment with us past their 18th birthday, but they must be 17 or younger at admission)
• Are deaf or hard of hearing
• Have been struggling with significant mental or behavioral health challenges, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other effects of trauma, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), intermittent explosive disorder (IED), conduct disorder, psychotic disorder, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or self-harm

Typical length of stay in Deaf Connections at Little Creek is six to 12 months, though this can be extended based on each young person’s needs and progress. Children and adolescents who receive care in our specialized residential treatment track for young people who are deaf or have partial hearing loss may stay in treatment for up to 18-24 months, if clinically appropriate.

For additional details about the admissions process, please contact us directly. The more we understand about each young person’s needs, the better we can help you decide if our facility has the solutions you’ve been seeking.

Deaf Connections at Little Creek provides an array of personalized therapeutic interventions to help children and adolescents who have been struggling with significant mental or behavioral health challenges. Our long-term residential programming allows us to work closely with young people over an extended period of time to help them make lasting positive changes.

We employ a variety of therapeutic modalities, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). To help young people who are dealing with PTSD or other effects of trauma, we also provide eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

All young people who participate in Deaf Connections at Little Creek have access to the full scope of services our facility provides.

The sole difference between programming for hearing patients and those who are deaf or have partial hearing loss is that we provide the necessary adaptations to ensure that deaf or hard-of-hearing patients can fully engage in and benefit from all services and activities.

Within Deaf Connections at Little Creek, services are provided by both hearing staff members and caregivers who are themselves deaf or hard of hearing.

All professionals who work with young people in our specialized treatment track have the training and experience necessary to provide young people within this population with the highest quality of care. Our therapeutic staff is composed of licensed clinicians, including master’s-level and Ph.D.-level professionals.

The following are examples of the services we provide for young people in Deaf Connections at Little Creek:

• Individual therapy – Each young person typically takes part in at least one individual therapy session per week, with additional sessions available based on need.
• Group therapy – Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients may take part in several groups during each treatment day. We offer many types of groups, including process groups, rehabilitation groups, and life skills groups.
• Family therapy – Family therapy sessions are scheduled at the frequency that best meets the specific needs and goals of each child or adolescent. Depending on each young person’s custody status, family therapy sessions may involve parents, other legal guardians, or case managers.

Our medical staff is also available to provide basic medical care, including medication management services.

Patients who receive medication management services have weekly meetings with a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. A board-certified psychiatrist directs all medication management services within Deaf Connections at Little Creek.

In addition to receiving comprehensive, personalized therapeutic services, each deaf or hard-of-hearing young person who heals at our residential treatment center for children and adolescents in Conway, Arkansas, also takes part in a dynamic educational program.

All patients in Deaf Connections at Little Creek attend our on-site school from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., five days a week. Our school is licensed through the Arkansas Department of Education.

Each child or adolescent participates at the most appropriate grade level as determined by their age, ability level, and prior academic achievement. Classes are taught by certified special education teachers, with therapeutic staff also present in the classroom to provide support and reinforce positive behaviors.

We provide all deaf and hard-of-hearing youths with the necessary accommodations to ensure that they receive maximum benefit from their academic experience in Deaf Connections at Little Creek. Individualized attention, personalized instruction, and comprehensive support are hallmarks of academic services within our program.

For more information about our educational programming, or for answers to any questions you may have about services in Deaf Connections at Little Creek, please contact us at your earliest convenience. A member of our team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak with you.