Arizona Child Study Center

The Arizona Child Study Center (AzCSC) at St. Joseph’s Children’s Health Center is a multidisciplinary program that provides services for children with learning and/or behavioral problems. It is the only hospital-based program of its kind in Arizona.

The AzCSC’s goal is to improve the quality of life for children, adolescents and families affected by mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorders. These disorders can have devastating and lifelong effects on children. The AzCSC is devoted to the advancement of treatment and caring for this special population. The AzCSC is a resource for all of Arizona’s children, without regard to their diagnosis or ability to pay.

Services Offered

The AzCSC offers evaluations and treatment services for infants and children identified as at-risk for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related disorders; learning, behavior, and emotional disorders; autism and related disorders; and specific developmental disorders.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

The field of developmental and behavioral pediatrics focuses specifically on the emotional development of children and families in a whole-child, family centered model of comprehensive care. The developmental and behavioral pediatrician understands normal and abnormal child development and behavior. He or she works to build strong relationships between children and their caregivers, creating the foundation for mental health later in life. Social and emotional health is often a better predictor of future life success than more commonly assessed measures, such as academic performance. Developmental and behavioral pediatrics also seeks to break down artificial barriers between the assessment of physical health and mental health understanding that children cannot afford the luxury of seeing the two as separate. The AzCSC seeks to find the cause of difficulties in major areas of a child’s functioning including home, school and peer relationships with the understanding that children need to be happy and successful in all three areas. The center also works to help parents fulfill their role as their child’s strongest and most effective advocates in life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.

Billing and Insurance

We will be happy to bill your health insurance plan, provided we receive the required billing information. We will ask for your insurance card each time you come to our office for a visit. Promptly advise our staff of any changes in insurance, name, custody status, address or phone numbers. There are times when a service we provide is not covered by your insurance. When this happens, you may be billed directly for those services. Extensive time spent reviewing existing records, communicating with your other providers or writing extensive reports requested or needed by you or your child are not always covered by insurance but are critically important to assure your child receives the help they need. We are contracted with most insurance plans in the state of Arizona, but please verify that we accept your health plan before you schedule your child’s appointment.

Fees/Co-Payments

We collect all co-payments and payments not covered by insurance at the time of the visit. If you do not have insurance or require financial assistance, please indicate this at the time you make your appointment and we will refer you to the Physicians Billing Service for assistance. We accept payment by cash, check, VISA, Master Card, Discover Card and American Express. Charges for office visits and procedures vary with the time spent and the severity and complexity of the problem. Please do not hesitate to discuss fees with our office manager if you have questions.

Office Hours and Appointments

We see patients by appointment only Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

First visits are very lengthy, often lasting up to 90 minutes. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early for the first visit. You will be asked to complete various forms, including a release of records so that we may obtain your child’s prior medical records to assist us in providing continuity of care. For follow-up visits, we ask that you arrive at least 15 minutes early. Late arrivals may need to be rescheduled at the discretion of the provider.

Cancellations or Late Arrivals

It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to record and remember their child’s medical appointments. As a courtesy, to assist our families, we have implemented an appointment reminder system. Please remember to call our office to confirm your appointment at least 48 hours before the date of the scheduled appointment. If you do not confirm your appointment, your child’s scheduled visit may be given to someone else. If you are unable to keep your child’s appointment or are going to be late, please call our office as soon as possible. This courtesy allows us to be of service to other patients. Appointments cancelled within 24 hours of scheduled appointments are considered a “No Show.” After 3 no show appointments, we will ask you to obtain medical services for your child at another physician’s office.

Contact Information

Main Phone: 602-406-3543
After Hours: 602-746-0581
Fax: 602-406-6135

Meet the Team