The CAARE Center has a full time child psychiatrist who provides psychiatric evaluation, consultation, and ongoing treatment for patients receiving care in the Mental Health Services Program.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling and/or behavior affecting children, adolescents and their families. Child psychiatrists receive medical education and training, and have the knowledge and experience necessary to integrate the biological and psychosocial aspects of children's problems and needs. All child psychiatrists complete four years of medical school, training in adult psychiatry, and specialized training focused on normal child and family development as well as the diagnosis and treatment of childhood disorders.

A comprehensive assessment by a child psychiatrist evaluates the current concerns of the infant, child or adolescent in the context of individual, family, and environmental factors. These factors include consideration of physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social domains. The evaluation usually includes direct observation or interview of the child and collateral information from the caregiver, teacher, and other adults involved with the child. Child psychiatrists often work in collaboration with or provide consultation to other mental health professionals, other physicians and professionals in schools, social agencies, and juvenile justice agencies.

Disorders that appear in childhood are diverse such as pervasive developmental disorders, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, mental retardation, and conduct disorders. Children also experience serious mood and anxiety disorders that are often the precursors of adult disorders. Research suggests that many adult disorders have their onset in childhood or adolescence even though the disorder is often not diagnosed or treated until adulthood.

Most psychoactive medications prescribed for children have not received the rigorous testing utilized in adult clinical trials. Currently, the research lags behind the clinical use of psychoactive medications in children and adolescents. Nonetheless, children often benefit from multi-modal treatment approaches and, in many cases, psychotropic medication plays a key role. The most effective treatment approaches often involve the combination of psychosocial interventions and medication. Appropriate use of psychoactive medication can provide relief from disabling and distressing symptoms and enable the child to grow, develop and succeed in his/her efforts in the family, with peers, and at school.

Child psychiatrists have the knowledge and experience to address the biological and psychosocial aspects of abused children's problems and needs. Child psychiatry addresses multiple aspects in the comprehensive mental health care of abused children through consultation to mental health clinicians and the provision of direct clinical services. Equally important is the child psychiatrist's role in primary and secondary prevention through early recognition and intervention. Child psychiatrists also collaborate with and consult to the many and diverse agencies involved in the care and concerns of abused children.

Child Psychiatry Resident Training Program