Child Study and Treatment Center recognized for high standard of quality, care
The Child Study and Treatment Center was recently reaccredited by The Joint Commission, earning the organization’s Gold Seal of Approval.
The Joint Commission Gold Seal is recognized by medical institutions nationwide as the gold standard for achieving a high standard of quality of care and safety for patients and is only granted to those institutions that are shown to comply with its rigorous requirements.
CSTC, located on the campus of Western State Hospital in Lakewood, serves children and youth ages 5–17 who have psychological and safety needs that cannot be met in their communities. As the only state-operated behavioral health facility for this population, CSTC strives to work with children, families, and communities to promote effective treatment, healing, and growth in a safe and nurturing environment.
This accreditation reflects this commitment and ongoing effort to provide the highest level of care, said Byron Eagle, CSTC chief executive officer.
“I am very proud to be part of a team of staff who are truly dedicated and committed to the work they do day in and day out,” Eagle said. “This can be very challenging and stressful work and I am always amazed at how our staff continue to strive for perfection and persevere in order to provide the best possible care to our kids.”
The ongoing commitment of staff to upholding these high standards can be seen in CSTC’s track record with TJC. Every three years the facility receives an on-site visit and survey by The Joint Commission to determine if it still complies with the commission’s stringent standards. CSTC has continued to prove worthy of reaccreditation, passing with flying colors in 2017 and 2020 despite COVID-19 challenges and most recently in 2023.
“We are very proud of what we do here at the hospital and providing a safe and therapeutic environment for the kids is paramount and is always our top priority,” Eagle said. “It is definitely a team effort and I think our commitment to excellence has been demonstrated based on the outcomes from the past several surveys.”
The commitment to meet these high standards can be seen by CSTC’s reaccreditation for meeting TJC’s performance markers for accreditation. Those markers include facilities’ performance in providing a safe environment, educating patients about the risks and options for diagnosis and treatment, protecting patient rights, including privacy rights, protecting patients against infection, and planning for emergencies.
TJC’s accreditation distinguishes facilities as leaders in the practice. It is a well-recognized endorsement nationally and internationally. CSTC has remained in the ranks of more than 22,000 other TJC-accredited health care programs around the world.
“Our accreditation means a lot to us as a program. It means that we are obligated and required to be held to a standard of quality care and patient safety that not only meets but exceeds industry standards, and receiving the Gold Seal of Approval lets us know that we are on the right path,” Eagle said.
CSTC provides culturally competent care to children and youth with severe emotional and behavioral disorders that are typically complicated by medical, social, legal, and developmental issues. The average length of stay is 10 to 12 months.
The center emphasizes a youth-guided and family-driven approach to care. This means that parents, guardians, and other family members are strongly encouraged to participate in all aspects of treatment, from admission through discharge. This ensures that both the youth and their family learn new skills to facilitate success when the youth return home. This also empowers parents and guardians to be active partners in the treatment process.
Accredited by TJC, CSTC is staffed by psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, recreational therapists, and psychiatric childcare counselors who work collaboratively to assist youth in making progress toward their treatment goals.
Learn more about CSTC here.
(By Jacob Jimenez)