The Neurobehavioral Program includes functional individual and group activities interwoven into each child’s specific treatment goals. Depending on a child’s needs, physical, occupational, speech, recreational, psychological and special therapies, such as cognitive retraining and nutrition, are provided. Patients also participate in groups and community activities, which provide opportunities for healthy interpersonal interaction and development. All children attend school on campus at Cumberland Academy.

Medical needs are directed by a board certified pediatrician and administered by nurses and behavioral counselors. Most children who are admitted to the Neurobehavioral Program are medically stable, but still require medical services, such as nursing, medication adjustment and nutrition education.

Throughout treatment, Cumberland’s program helps children learn socially adaptive behaviors and find the supports required to maintain new skills after discharge. Sometimes children can develop the skills required to manage the demands of daily living. Other times children may need the continuing help and support of other people to sustain similar success. At Cumberland, we blend skill development and positive behavioral support treatment strategies to produce enduring outcomes for each child.

Treatment at Cumberland also incorporates structured teaching using facilitative skill models that emphasize the specific needs of the individual. These approaches build on intervention strategies that research has shown to be effective for patients with autism and other developmental disabilities. This includes optimizing the physical environment, developing realistic daily schedules, establishing clear and explicit expectations, using perceptually relevant cues and prompts and assuring that programming is relevant to the needs and interests of each child.

Consistent treatment is critical to each patient’s success. Staff members remain in constant communication regarding each patient’s status. Detailed data sheets, treatment team meetings and core scheduling are just a few of the ways that our professional staff keep abreast of each patient’s ongoing needs and required care throughout treatment.

The goal of Cumberland Hospital’s Neurobehavioral Program is to help each child develop the skills and supports required to live in the least restrictive, most community-inclusive and culturally relevant environment of choice possible.