Patient & Family Information

Westchester Campus

What to bring

insurance card (please bring primary and secondary)
credit card or check for co-pay
all your medications (psychiatric & medical including birth control)
all creams and over-the-counter vitamins (must be new and in unopened containers)
enough clothing for 5 days (each cottage has a washing machine & dryer)
a sweatshirt or jacket depending on weather
footwear without lace if possible (otherwise we will remove the laces)
comfortable, casual clothing, active and sleep wear
socially appropriate clothing (no cropped tops or revealing clothes)
unopened shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, unopened liquid soap,
brush, comb and other personal hygiene items that do not contain alcohol and are not in aerosol containers
some rooms can get hot or cold so bring layers (1-2 sweatshirts)

What to leave at home

To ensure safety, privacy, confidentiality and a substance-free environment, you should leave the following items at home:

valuable or difficult-to-replace items like jewelry, designer clothing, and cash
electronic, photographic, and recording devices (cell phones, air pods, radios with cords, cameras, smart watches, meta glasses)
marijuana (even if prescribed or medicinal)
smoke and nicotine products (vape, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, matches, lighter)
clothing or footwear with drawstrings or laces, as well as belts or scarves
clothing with images or slogans invoking alcohol, drugs, sex, or gangs
sheets, towels, comforters, and pillows (we provide these)
stuffed animals (we can provide)
weapons or potentially dangerous personal items (pocketknife, scissors, razor, hair dryer, mirror, nail file)
products that contain alcohol or in aerosol containers
plastic bags

All patients’ belongings are searched by staff upon admission and at staff’s discretion to protect you and other patients during your stay

Visitor Information

All visitors must be pre-approved adults (over 18 years old). Please follow these guidelines

For child and adolescent patients, only parents or legal guardians can visit
Visits per patient are limited to three per week, one hour per visit unless alternative arrangements are made
Check in at the nursing station to receive a visitor identification tag (please bring ID for staff to check against the approved list) and make sure that any food you brought is safe enough given possible allergies on the unit
Leave cell phones and any photographic or recording equipment in the car (or if you do not have a car, with the nursing station)

Food & Allergies

Can I bring food from home?

Although meals and snacks are provided by the hospital, a family member is welcome to bring food during a visit, except keep in mind that:

Food delivery services are not allowed
Four Winds Westchester campus is nut free
Cold fish (like tuna fish) allowed but hot fish is not allowed
Please do not share food with other patients who may have food allergies or dietary restrictions

Picky Eaters

We know some patients are picky eaters, which is why we have foods that are always available in the dining room. In addition, our Dietary Team, which includes a registered dietician, works with patients to address their dietary needs.

Dining Room Always Available Menu

Sunflower butter and jam on a wheat sandwich
Penne pasta with marinara or Alfredo sauce or butter and parmesan cheese
Turkey frank on a bun
Chicken salad
American cheese slices
White bread and wheat bread
Salad bar with Ranch and Italian Dressing

Staying Hydrated

We know teenagers and some adults do not like drinking water. That is why we provide Crystal Light packets which can be sent to the unit to be mixed into water. Alternatively, Gatorade and GingerAle, can be ordered and sent to the unit.

Dietary Consults

The Dietary Team automatically consults on the following patients:

reported 10-pound weight loss within the past three months.
adults with BMI less than 18% or children (under age 18) with BMI less than 15%
active food restriction or purging
ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) or food texture issues
food allergies
gluten free
vegetarian
kosher

Learning Center

School is a critical part of normal development for all children and adolescents. We recognize that in many cases school is a significant stressor in our patients’ lives. We provide instruction in academic subjects, and help students develop and reinforce socialization skills.

The school program is a core component of the evaluation and treatment milieu. Our program provides diagnostic data, helps with behavior management, and teaches tools essential for successful learning and re-entry back to school.

Our Learning Center is located on hospital grounds, staffed by certified master’s-level, special-education teachers, and teaching assistants. We provide individualized or small group instruction. Our curriculum is designed to follow each student’s school curriculum, tailored to their academic level. With written permission, we coordinate academic programming with the student’s school to ensure an educational continuum.

Students are able to complete State (i.e. Regents and Common Core) and local exams while being treated at Four Winds, in accordance with New York State and school district regulations.

Upon discharge, with consent, the Learning Center team prepares a final written report describing a student’s academic and social participation while at Four Winds to help students transition back to their schools.