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District says Aviva will fast-track psychiatric care for Delco Academy students after CRO closure
Summary
Southeast Delco administrators reported a new working referral relationship with Aviva to prioritize outpatient and psychiatric services for Delco Academy students, promising faster appointment windows and avoidance of medication gaps.
Administrators told the Southeast Delco School District board on Sept. 18 that Aviva — an outpatient behavioral-health provider located in Darby — agreed to prioritize referrals from the district’s Delco Academy program and to speed access to psychiatric evaluation and medication management for students.
Dr. Tapper described a site visit and said Aviva’s staff guaranteed a rapid schedule: insurance verification within about a week and psychiatric scheduling within two weeks, a substantially shorter timeline than typical hospital wait lists. "They guaranteed us two weeks that their child will be able to see the psychiatrist," Dr. Tapper said, adding that Aviva would bypass its usual requirement that a child attend three outpatient therapy sessions before psychiatric referral for students already receiving clinical services through Delco Academy.
The presentation followed the closure of CRO services that had previously provided psychiatric and outpatient therapy for Delco Academy students. Administrators said they had met with several providers over the summer and that Aviva expressed willingness to partner without a formal contract, instead offering a working referral process in which Delco Academy referrals would be fast-tracked and families contacted to arrange intake.
Aviva staff described hours Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m., with ability to serve adolescents; administrators said Aviva indicated children under 14 must come with a parent while those 14 and older may consent independently. The district said Aviva offered after-school hours and would provide school notes when students are absent for appointments.
Administrators characterized the relationship as a community partnership rather than a contract and said they would refer families to Aviva to reduce risk of medication interruptions for students who had relied on CRO over the summer. No formal contract or fee arrangement was presented to the board during the committee meeting.
