Medical Services for Children and Teens

Mental Health Evaluations and Medication Management

Mental health evaluations involve assessing symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to diagnose conditions like depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders. We often conduct these evaluations using clinical interviews, standardized tests, or other assessment tools.

Medication management is a critical aspect of treating mental health issues, focusing on the careful selection, dosing, and monitoring of medications to achieve therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects. This process involves regular follow-ups to adjust treatment plans as needed based on individual responses and changes in condition.

Regular monitoring ensures that medication regimens are effective, safe, and aligned with the patient’s goals, helping to maintain optimal mental health and well-being.

Our Provider

Erica Sloan, DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC

Providing for Kids and Teens in Ames and Des Moines

Erica graduated from the University of Iowa College of Nursing with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner. During her DNP program, she focused her studies and doctoral work on autism spectrum disorder, specifically aiming to reduce delays in diagnostic evaluations and connecting children to supportive services and therapies. She was honored to be named a Jonas Scholar for this work.

For Erica, it is a privilege to serve children with various neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism. She also dedicates a significant portion of her practice to evaluations for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and managing medications to reduce the symptoms of these conditions. She sees children and teenagers from the age of 5 years through 18 years. 

Erica is an Ames native, and while her degrees are from a different school, she is a Cyclone at heart. She enjoys attending ISU football and basketball games with her husband and two children.

Common Questions

We provide evaluations for ADHD, pediatric anxiety disorders, and depression.

We provide medication support to address ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and also support children and their families following an autism diagnosis with associated challenges (for example, sleep difficulties, anxiety, ADHD, behaviors).

Just as medication is helpful for treating high blood pressure, headaches, allergies, or an infection, medication can also be used to help treat mental health conditions. Medications can help you to feel more like yourself and can reduce the burden of your symptoms. Not all mental health medications are long term; some may be taken only as needed or daily for a shorter period of time. Your provider will provide education and prescribe the best medications to treat your condition while working to minimize the potential for side effects.

After you have scheduled your first visit, you will receive an email to access your patient portal account. Your patient portal will have forms for you to review and complete before this appointment. Sometimes your provider will need information from others, for example, from your child’s teacher, but this will be clearly explained. It is important that you take the time to carefully complete these forms so that your provider learns as much as possible about your child’s health and well-being and can plan for your care.

Meeting a new provider can cause anxiety for some. Please be assured that our goal is to help you be your very best. Parents and other caregivers are always welcome at appointments if they choose. Do not hesitate to let us know of any concerns you may have prior to or after your appointments.  

Your first visit with your medical provider may take up to 1.5 hours. During this time, your medical provider will get to know more about you, your health, and your mental health concerns. If you worked to complete evaluations and assessments prior to your appointment, the results of these will be reviewed and diagnoses discussed.  You can expect to receive more education about your mental health and the various treatment options and will be able to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you!

Yes! We submit claims to your health insurance and any remaining copayment or coinsurance will be billed to you. We are in-network with:

  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Wellmark and Anthem policies – we are not in-network Unity Point HMO Plans)
  • Cigna
  • Health Partners
  • Midlands Choice
  • United Healthcare
  • United Medical Resources

We encourage you to contact your insurance carrier to verify coverage. If we are not in-network with your insurance company, please contact us. We do offer private pay rates as well. For more information, click here.

General Wellness

We are excited to provide wellness programs and support for individuals, parents, and children. Our goal is to provide accessible, compassionate care so everyone can thrive. Explore our offerings and join us in building a healthier community.

Art Groups for Children

Art groups for children are vibrant spaces where kids can explore their creativity and express themselves through various art forms. The primary goals of these groups include fostering creativity, self-expression, learning new skills, building confidence, and providing a social platform for interaction with peers.

Neurodivergent Social Opportunities

Social opportunities designed to support diverse interactions, fostering environments where everyone’s unique contributions are valued.

Resources

Recommended about Parenting

Books

  • Good Inside, Becky Kennedy, PhD, 2022 

  • No Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Daniel Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, 2016 

  • The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Daniel Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, 2012

  • Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids, Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, 2019

  • Raising Mentally Strong Kids: How to Combine the Power of Neuroscience with Love and Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Responsible, and Resilient Children and Young Adults, Daniel G. Amen, MD and Charles Fay, PhD, 2024

Resources for parents and caregivers raising children impacted by ADHD

Books

  • Thriving with ADHD: A Guide to Naturally Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Your Child, Dana Kay, 2022

  • ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction–from Childhood through Adulthood, Edward M. Hallowell, MDl & John J. Ratey, MD, 2022

  • Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder, Edward M. Hallowell, MDl & John J. Ratey, MD, 2011

  • The ADHD Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Gain Self-Confidence, Social Skills, and Self-Control, Lawrence E Shapiro, PhD, 2010

  • Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD or ADHD, Patricia O. Quinn, MD, 2012

  • Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention: A Book for Kids about ADHD, Kathleen G. Nadeau, PhD and Ellen B. Dixon, PhD, 2004

  • Parenting Children with ADHD: 10 Lessons that Medicine Cannot Teach, Vincent Monastra, PhD, 2014

  • Taking Charge of ADHD, Russell A. Barkley, PhD, 2020

 Podcasts

  • Practical ADHD Strategies

  • ADHD Experts

  • Taking Control: ADHD Podcast

  • Dr. D on ADHD

  • I Have ADHD Podcast

  • The ADHD Homestead

  • Parenting ADHD Podcast

  • ADHD Rewired

  • Attention Talk Radio

  • ADHD Essentials

  • Good Inside with Dr. Becky Kennedy (not specific to ADHD support, but helpful with talking to our children and helping them to work through challenges)

 Websites

A list of resources that may be helpful if you have concerns about your child’s learning