Referral information may be submitted by parents (or guardians), social workers, court officers, school personnel, pediatricians, psychiatric treatment facilities and other mental health practitioners.

If you would like to make a referral and/or if you have additional questions regarding our services, please feel free to contact our Admissions Office:

Direct: 757-922-3332
Email: [email protected]

Admission Criteria for Residential Treatment (RTC):

• Current diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or an Intellectual Disability with one or more significant co-occurring psychiatric disorders. (Please see table below)
• Males and Females, ages 10 and under 22 at time of admission
• Full Scale IQ of 35 or greater
• Individual is enrolled in an academic program of special education
• Individual has failed at less intense levels of treatment within the community
• Individual is medically stable
• Impairment of the individual’s social, interpersonal, and/or communication skills requires the provision of moderate intensity, multidisciplinary treatment, integrated within a highly structured, 24-hour therapeutic residential setting.

Diagnostic Criteria for Residential Treatment

Criterion I
Neurodevelopmental (brain-based) disorders:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Intellectual Disability (ID)

Criterion II
Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders Commonly Served:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Bipolar and Related Disorders
• Depressive Disorders: DMDD, MDD
• Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders
• Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders: PTSD, RAD

Submission of Referral Information for Review:
Please utilize the following checklist as a guide for submission of referral information to the Admissions Office. Each referral packet received will be reviewed by our Admission’s Review Board to determine if our programs and services are appropriate for the individual being referred. It is imperative that we receive documentation that is current and that presents a complete clinical picture of the individual’s needs, abilities and challenges.

Pre-placement Interviews:
If a pre-placement interview is warranted, it may be conducted by the Director of Admissions, Program Director and/or Director of Business Development in consultation with the Director of Clinical Services. Should the individual not meet criteria for admission to The Hughes Center, an alternative recommendation will be made upon request. The Hughes Center complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

RTC Admission Requirements:
Prior to admission, the following documentation must be received by the Admissions Office:

• Completed Referral Information Checklist
• Completed Application for Admission
• Signed Placement / Financial Agreement
• Immunization Record
• Current IEP specifying residential (or addendum request) with School transcripts and Report Cards if SPED
• Copies of all Insurance Cards
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Copy of Social Security Card
• Copy of all court orders, to include: custody, delinquency, probation, divorce decree, etc.
• Previous Seven Days of Behavior (documented on page 3 of the Application for Admission)

Virginia Medicaid recipients (IACCT/ CSA Funded Cases) will also require the following additional documentation prior to admission:

• IACCT Assessment
• IACCT Certificate of Need (CON)
• CANS dated no more than ninety days prior to the date of admission

Private School Referrals

Referrals to our community-based day school may be submitted by the parent (or guardian), Local Education Agency (LEA) and/or CSA Team. It is highly recommended that parents meet / collaborate with their local IEP or CSA Teams prior to making the referral to ensure that placement at the Hughes Educational Center is the “least restrictive environment” and the most appropriate placement to address the potential student’s needs.

Admission Criteria for Community-based Education Program:

• Current diagnosis of one or more of the following special education disabilities:
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Emotional Disturbance (ED)
• Intellectual Disability (ID)
• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• Other Health Impairments (OHI)
• Speech and Language Impairments (SLI)
• Males / Females, ages (10–22) at time of admission
• Individual is enrolled in an academic program of special education
• Individual is unable to thrive in public school or another private school environment
• Individual is medically stable

Admission Requirements:

• Completed Enrollment Application
• Signed Placement / Financial Agreement
• Immunization Record
• Current IEP specifying private day (or addendum request) with school transcripts and report cards if SPED

Prior to admission, the student’s current Inclusion & Intervention Plan (IIP), 504 Plan, or Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) must be provided. Students are enrolled in a classroom based upon their current IEP goals, academic strengths and needs, learning abilities, grade, and age.

Legal guardians must sign a release of information permitting correspondence and transfer of records to and from the Local Education Agency to ensure continuity of academic services (upon admission and discharge).

If a student is suffering from a contagious or infectious disease upon admission, the parent / guardian must provide a written statement by a physician outlining the condition(s) and any necessary precautions.

The Hughes Center’s professional staff are here to help. Call 434-836-8500. If you need immediate medical assistance, contact 911 or seek the nearest emergency room.