Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital

KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program (PHP)

KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program (PHP) at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA is a short-term integrated day treatment program for young children who have been diagnosed with, or may have, autism, developmental disabilities, and behavior disorders:

  • evaluates and treats children in a structured, individualized program
  • develops individual educational, behavioral, and social intervention plans for each child
  • provides family intervention to assist parents in understanding their child’s needs and manage their child’s behavior
  • communicates with school districts and regional centers to facilitate the child’s transition into appropriate educational placements and community services

In this website, there is a summary of the program and its facilities, its suitability and benefits to both children and family, how to register and guidelines on eligibility for health insurance cover.

KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program (PHP)

KidsConnect is a five-day a week, six-hour a day program. All aspects of the program are fully integrated and coordinated to create an individualized, comprehensive, consistent, interdisciplinary, and therapeutic environment.

KidsConnect will provide your child with:

  • comprehensive assessment in all developmental areas (e.g. cognitive, speech and language, occupational skills, recreational skills, self-help, social, emotional, behavioral)
  • diagnostic assessments if necessary
  • individual comprehensive educational plan
  • a specific behavior program written to address your child’s needs.
  • a structured cognitive-developmental program
  • speech and language therapy (usually two or three times a week)
  • occupational therapy (usually two times a week)
  • recreation therapy (usually one to two times a week)
  • self-help skills training
  • social skills
  • medication evaluation and intervention

Ideal referral candidates:

Toddlers, preschoolers, and TK/Kinder-aged children with ASD, developmental disabilities, or behavioral disorders.  Children/families currently enrolled in KidsConnect are eligible to participate in research. We do not recruit outside of the clinic.

Availability: 

Mon - Fri 09:00 - 15:00

Location

For more parking and transportation information, please visit www.semel.ucla.edu/maps

Our hospital and parking lots are big, and can be very disorienting, so please give yourself and extra 15 minutes to find us.  After you park, go to the Semel Institute, the tall brick building on the northeast corner of Westwood and Stein Plazas.  Enter at 740 Westwood Plaza; KidsConnect is located on the 7th floor.

Semel Institute/NPI Building
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
United States

Phone:  (310) 206-2695
Fax:  (310) 825-0676

Faculty and staff

Director: Tanya Paparella, Ph.D.
Director: Stephanny Freeman, Ph.D.

Application process

If you would like to register your child so that they can be placed on our waitlist, please complete the Registration Form. We welcome applicants who are 18mos to 5 years-11mos at the time of registration.

Please EMAIL the registration form to:
Annette Lovato
KidsConnect
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, Room 78-215
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Email: [email protected]

We will confirm receipt of your form within 1 week. At that time, your child will be added to our waitlist.

While you are waiting for an opening in KidsConnect, it is important that you obtain services for your child within the community. Please see the FAQs for additional information, suggestions, and resources.

Thank you and we look forward to getting to know more about your child.

Gifting

If you are interested in making a gift to support KidsConnect Autism Treatment Program (PHP), you may donate directly here or you may contact Amy Drizhal, Senior Director of Development at [email protected].

Frequently asked questions about KidsConnect

While your child is on the waitlist for KidsConnect, it is important that you obtain services from within the community. Here are some suggestions:

  • Have your child professionally evaluated by providers in the community.
  • Ask your insurance company for a list of covered providers.
  • If you would like your child to receive a diagnostic evaluation within UCLA, contact: 
  • UCLA Autism Evaluation Clinic  (310) 794-4008 
  • Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Clinic 310-825-0867
  • Have your child evaluated by the Regional Center.  The Regional Center can provide diagnostic evaluations and provide services (such as in-home behavioral intervention, respite care, social skills group, after-school program) at no charge. Below is a list of Regional Centers that serve the Southern California area:
  • If you would like your child to receive a diagnostic evaluation within UCLA, contact: 
  • If your child is approaching 3 years of age, or older, the local school district will conduct an evaluation. If appropriate, get an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place in order for the school district to provide appropriate educational interventions for your child.
  • Don’t hesitate to get your child on any and all waitlists you may encounter as you are pursuing services.
  • Additional websites that may be of help: Autism Speaks What Is Autism? | Autism Speaks and Autism Society of America

See The Application Process for more information on how to register your child.

  • diagnostic assessment/evaluation if needed
  • comprehensive assessment in all developmental areas (e.g. cognitive, speech and language, occupational skills, recreational skills, self-help, social, emotional, behavioral)
  • individual comprehensive educational plan
  • a specific behavior program written to address your child’s needs
  • a structured cognitive-developmental program
  • speech and language therapy (usually two or three times a week)
  • occupational therapy (usually two times a week)
  • recreation therapy (usually one to two times a week)
  • self-help skills training
  • social skills
  • medication evaluation and intervention

The KidsConnect specializes in treatment for:

  • toddlers and preschool children from two to six years of age who would benefit from a structured early childhood environment.
  • children who are on the autism spectrum and/or present with developmental disabilities or other severe behavior problems requiring intensive treatment.
  • children who have tried less intensive outpatient treatment and been unsuccessful, or do not have access to these services in their community.
  • Parents who are willing to actively participate in the program and transport their child to UCLA.

We encourage you to be proactive, be an informed consumer!  Know your Healthcare plan! 

Most healthcare insurance plans have benefit coverage for KidsConnect Autism Treatment Partial Hospitalization Program.  I encourage you to call your plan to find out how our program is covered and what your out of pocket expenses will be. 

Please note that the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA is not contracted with Kaiser Permanente or Medi-Cal for partial hospitalization services.  Therefore, they will not reimburse for our program.

If you would like to find out how your insurance plan covers our program, here is a quick guideline for you to check your benefits.

Call your customer service/member service phone number on your healthcare card.

Always write the date you call and the name (first name and last name initial) of the customer service representative you speak with.

Let them know that your child is a prospective patient of the KidsConnect Autism Treatment Partial Hospitalization Program at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA.  You would like to find out how this service is covered under your insurance plan and what your copay will be.

Questions to ask:

  • Is this a self-funded plan?  Self funded plans are not regulated by the California Insurance laws.
  • Are there any exclusions for the treatment of autism (299.00).
  • This service will fall under your Mental Health - Behavioral Health benefits, not the Major Medical benefits.
  • Is the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA a participating provider, a contracted provider?

Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-825-0511

  • How is partial hospitalization covered?   Insurance plans often cover partial hospitalization either under the inpatient or outpatient benefit.  Some plans will have a separate benefit for partial hospitalization.   Make sure they understand that this is not a 24-hour inpatient, overnight hospitalization.  Nor is this an outpatient, 1-hour office visit.  KidsConnect operates Monday – Friday, from 8am to 2:00pm, 6 hours per day.
  • What is my deductible and co-pay?
  • Are there any benefit limitation (either dollar amount or days) per calendar year?
  • Does KidsConnect need to be pre-authorized before my child admits?

Once we have an admission date for your child, our Admissions Department will also call your healthcare plan to verify the benefits you have available. All healthcare plans state a disclaimer when providing benefit information:  Verification of benefits does not guarantee the accuracy of the information. Verification of benefits does not guarantee payment.

Therefore, as the plan member, it is important that you too, call your healthcare plan to obtain benefit information.  Ultimately, you, as the plan member, are responsible for knowing how your plan works.