School liaison: evaluation and treatment.

Expanded liaison and provision of services to local school districts may serve as a viable source of both revenue and broadened referral bases for a private psychiatric hospital. Psychologists possess skills uniquely suited to the evaluation, and treatment techniques necessary for the establishment of an assessment service, and can serve in a variety of capabilities in outpatient, inpatient, or consultative roles. If a facility has en existing child and/or adolescent program, initial start-up costs of an assessment service will be minimal. However, even a facility without such programs will find that the development of a strong school liaison will be relatively inexpensive and will result in both revenue generation and an expanded referral base.