Here in Arizona, there are not many places to turn if you have a violent child. Whether the violence is caused by mental illness, developmental disabilities, autism, brain injuries, or a combination of these factors, the task of helping these children is generally passed around from one person or organization to the next. With no place to turn, many Arizona families make the difficult decision to send their child across the country to a quality facility that they hope can help their child.
Arizona is significantly lacking in resources when it comes to treating violent children. There are no longer any full-fledged psychiatric institutions for children in the state. The Arizona State Hospital used to have a juvenile division, but not anymore. Many families turn to the court system, hoping that a judge will order that the child be placed in treatment and that the state will pay for it. Residential treatment in an institution is astronomically expensive, often costing between $150,000 and $200,000 per year, plus the costs of getting the child there. In 2013 alone, 127 kids were placed in out-of-state facilities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. And that doesn’t even include the kids who were court-ordered to leave the state and receive treatment.
It’s unfortunate that there aren’t more treatment options closer to home. Without help, violent children don’t just “outgrow” violent behaviors; instead, these individuals often find themselves caught up in the justice system with, again, nowhere to turn for help.
But there is hope. Bryan Davey, president of Highland Behavioral in Phoenix, is working to start a center dedicated to helping the kids who need it the most. He’s putting together a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, board-certified behavior analysts, and pediatricians to help children living with autism, developmental disabilities, or brain injuries. Davey hopes to have the center open later this year.
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