English

Østbytunet Center for Treatment and Professional Development in Child Psychiatry is owned by the Norwegian Women's Voluntary Association. The institution is financed by Southeast Regional Health, and is the only in-patient treatment offering for children ages 6-13 in the region.

Østbytunet offers treatment to 25 children of elementary school age in three departments, a Family and Network Project, and a Residential Family Therapy unit. It has its own school on the premises.

Three residential units

Unit 1 (”House 1”) offers long-term in-patient treatment to 6 children and day treatment to 2 children. The unit offers treatment to the younger children, from 6-9 years old. In 1993 the average length of treatment per child was 2 years. The in-patient children each have their own room, and usually go home on weekends.

Unit 2 (”House 2”) offers long-term in-patient treatment to 6 children and day treatment to 2 children. The unit offers treatment to the older children, from 10-13 years old. In 1993 the average length of treatment per child was 1 ½ years.

Unit 3 (“The Apple Orchard”) offers long-term in-patient treatment to 6 children and day treatment to one child. The unit usually admits older children, from 9-13 years old.  

Cooperation whith the familly

As one of its requirements, the institution demands that the child’s family meet here about every third week, so that an understanding of the child, his/her needs etc. can be coordinated between the institution, family and child him-/herself; and so that the family and institution can cooperate practically to give the child a developmentally positive milieu in the best way possible.