Children’s Behavior And Emotions
Children of all ages can struggle with big emotions or mental health concerns. These programs offer evaluation and/or proven interventions to help families (and teachers!) understand and address emotional and behavioral challenges that arise in young children.
Please note there are a number of private mental health providers and clinics in our community with specialized training in assessing and treating young children’s emotional and behavioral needs. This website does not currently maintain a directory of private providers. Please check out the programs below or contact your child’s doctor and/or insurance company for other referrals to a therapist that has expertise in working with young children.
ABC is available for any family with a child 6-months-old to 4-years-old. Discuss specific eligibility during your initial phone call.
ABC is offered at several agencies including the Center for Child & Family Health, Exchange Family Center, and the Children’s Developmental Services Agency; the 10 sessions are typically one-hour long home visits, but the visits may be done virtually
Cost:
Call or text the Center for Child & Family Heath (CCFH) ABC line at 919-378-1811 or fill out the ABC Interest Form. CCFH can connect you with other ABC providers if they are better able to meet your needs.
READY Project/Services- ccfhnc.org/ready
Children (especially autistic or neurodivergent children) and their families
Burch Avenue Park; new playgroup to start soon at the Jewish Community Center
Cost:
Our current playgroup is free. We may be adding an additional playgroup/music on Friday afternoons that is donation-based.
Please feel free to email us at hello@allneurotypes.com. We’ll respond within 3 business days and add you to the email list.
Adults or children who qualify for Medicaid or are uninsured in Durham, Orange, Wake, Johnston, Mecklenburg and Cumberland counties
Services are provided at individual health professionals’ offices or virtually during the pandemic
Cost:
Contact the Alliance Access and Information Center at 800-510-9132, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit alliancehealthplan.org. Relay is offered for deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech-impaired callers by dialing 711 or 800-735-2962.
A child and their family are eligible for supports and services if the child is younger than age three and has a suspected developmental delay or an established developmental condition
Services may be provided in a family’s home, childcare setting or other community settings
Cost:
Free (evaluation and service coordination) and sliding scale for other services, based on financial need
Parents, caregivers or other involved professionals can make a referral by calling the Durham CDSA Referral Coordinator at 919-866-2847. For a full list of services and other frequently asked questions, please visit beearly.nc.gov.
Duke Children’s Evaluation Center serves infants, children and young adults (ages 0-25)
Duke Children’s Evaluation Center is located in Durham at 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 300, the Pavilion East at Lakeview Building; free parking is available for patients.
Cost:
Coverage for mental health services will vary based on your health insurance plan.
To make an appointment for an evaluation, call 919-385-3232 and leave a message with the child’s name, date of birth and behavioral health insurance provider. An intake staff member will return your call as soon as possible.
Children with challenging behavior, ages birth to five years, who are enrolled in Durham County childcare programs; referrals come jointly from childcare providers and families; either can initiate the process
Durham County
Cost:
Call the Exchange Family Center’s office at 919-403-8249 or use this form to request information or assistance: exchangefamilycenter.org/early-childhood-outreach-inquiry
Spanish-speaking families (children 6+ years-old and adults)
We have clinics in Durham, NC and Siler City, NC
Cost:
We partner with a diverse array of funding sources to ensure that our care is affordable and accessible. Please call to obtain specific information for your situation.
We currently accept Medicaid, Health Choice, and Medicare. Additionally, we are a contracted IPRS provider with the following Managed Care Organizations: Alliance Behavioral Health, Cardinal Innovations, and Sandhills.
Please visit our elfuturo-nc.org or call (919) 688-7101 for more information about our walk-in clinic.
Any family that lives in Durham County with a child between 0- and 12-years-old
Throughout Durham County
Cost:
All family support services and some parenting workshops are free to families
Call the Exchange Family Center’s office at 919-403-8249, visit exchangefamilycenter.org/parents-caregivers/family-support-program for additional information, or fill out a referral form here: exchangefamilycenter.org/referrals.
For additional information on Parenting Workshops visit exchangefamilycenter.org/parents-caregivers/parenting-workshops.
Children up to age 18 who have experienced traumatic events and children ages 2.5-to-6 who have challenging behaviors
Services are typically provided at the Urbaniak Clinic in the Center for Child & Family Health, 1121 W. Chapel Hill Street (near the Durham Co-op), though they may be offered virtually
Cost:
Complete this online referral form or call the Clinic Administrator at (919) 385-0701. A licensed clinician will follow up with caregivers to determine if services are a good fit for a family’s needs. Visit ccfhnc.org/urbaniak-clinic/ for additional information.
English 
Spanish