Quick Links
Support Us
Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Unit
Comprehensive Assessment and Response Training System
Learn MoreThe Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Unit (CATU) is a 9-bed acute psychiatric unit housed at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago. The CATU treats foster children between the ages of 11 and 17 years that the Department of Children and Family Services has identified as being the most at-risk. Youngsters admitted to the CATU:
Dr. Naylor is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Behavioral Health and Welfare Program, a program formed by contract between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and UIC to address the mental health needs of the most severely disturbed state wards.
Fedra Najjar, MD, Associate Professor of clinical psychiatry is the director of the neurodevelopmental disorder psychopharmacology clinic at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She is also the associate medical director of the comprehensive assessment and treatment unit, an inpatient unit at UIC treating severely mentally ill adolescents who are in state custody.
James Chambliss MD, MPH is an attending physician at UIC working on the inpatient Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Unit (CATU) unit as well as Consult Liaison. He graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and completed residency at the Broadlawns-UnityPoint Psychiatry Residency program. Upon graduating Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) program, he joined the faculty.
Meaghan Smeraglia is the lead occupational therapist on CATU. She specializes in adolescent mental health and is a certified clinical aromatherapist. Meaghan is deeply honored to serve the vulnerable DCFS population. She is humbled to have been awarded the UIH 2019 Employee of Year. ...
Internationally acclaimed mental health nurse who had prior clinical practices/experiences with the WHO Collaborating Center for Research, Training and Treatment in Mental Health and Addiction, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and Al-Amal Psychiatric Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Worked as a Psychiatric Nurse a...
Angel Tatum, LCSW earned an undergraduate degree from University of Illinois, a Master's in Human Service Administration from Spertus Institute, and an MSW from Savannah State University. She is empathetic, approachable, and direct in her treatment style. Angel has worked to serve the needs of others for the past 25 years. She helps adolescents who are struggling with depression, trauma, addictions, family conflict, and more. Angel uses CBT, DBT, psychoanalysis, journaling, and more to put the individuals she works with on a better path. She is focused on a treatment plan that helps them gain the skills they need to live a better life, to own their spaces, create safe spaces, and live unapologetically.
Tenika Flowers-Uwalaka is a Certified Recreation Therapist that provides therapeutic recreation to both adolescent and adult inpatient units at UIC . Tenika has worked with adolescents in behavioral health in educational and clinical settings of all backgrounds. As a Recreation Therapist, Tenika utilizes evidence based activity interventions to improve the cognitive, social, physical and emotional needs of adolescents on CATU. Tenika is deeply invested in helping to improve behavioral health and is honored to be apart of the CATU treatment team.
Emmanuel is as a Medical Social Associate on the CATU Unit and a LSW candidate. He received his Masters in Social Work at Grand Canyon University. He specializes in working with adults and children with behavioral, cognitive and mental disorders. Before joining the team at UI Health, Emmanuel worked for 8 years in long term care, in various different roles. He is invested in working with children on the CATU unit by helping them add value to their life and find hope for a great future.
Other programs of Comprehensive Assessment and Response Training System (CARTS)
