Services & Specialties
Functional Independence Restoration Program

Get expert inpatient rehabilitation to help your child manage chronic pain and regain independence.

AppointmentsContact UsDirect Call513-636-7768

Helping Children and Adolescents With Severe Chronic Pain and Disability Regain Function

When severe chronic pain takes over your child’s life, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming. Families come from all over the country, often without hope after years failed treatments and interventions, to receive nationally recognized care from the Functional Independence Restoration (FIRST) Program team.

The FIRST Program provides intensive inpatient rehabilitation for children and adolescents living with severe chronic pain and pain-related disability. The team also treats children and adolescents who, in addition to chronic pain, experience functional neurological and somatic symptoms. Our team brings together experts in pain and rehabilitative medicine, behavioral medicine and clinical psychology, occupational and physical therapy, and eight additional disciplines to provide a comprehensive approach to each child’s treatment.

Our approach focuses on helping children and adolescents understand their condition, develop effective coping skills, rebuild strength and endurance, restore function, return to the activities that are important to them, and transition back into their lives with greater independence. We work with each family to develop an individualized treatment plan centered on their child’s unique needs, strengths, and goals.

Why Choose Cincinnati Children’s Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment?

Expert-led care: Experts from 13 different specialties work together to create one coordinated care plan for your child, with a shared goal of improving rehabilitation outcomes at the regional, national and international levels.
Personalized care plans: Treatment is tailored to your child’s unique needs, strengths, goals and progress. As your child grows and develops, their care plan can change to support their progress.
Unmatched Patient outcomes: 100% of patients in our program have increased their level of functioning during treatment. We also offer specialized approaches for children who haven’t made progress in other programs.
Ongoing follow-up care: Our team continues to support your child long after the program ends through follow-up appointments with the core team, virtual check-ins and ongoing tracking of outcomes.

Pediatric Chronic Pain Expertise and Care

National Expertise in Pain Rehabilitation

Cincinnati Children’s is nationally recognized for expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and research of complex pediatric pain conditions pediatric pain care.

Our inpatient pain rehabilitation program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) since 2018. Cincinnati Children’s is one of only two in institutions in the world to receive this accreditation for pediatric pain rehabilitation, reflecting our commitment to high-quality, specialized care.

Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation

Some children need more support than outpatient care can provide. Our inpatient program provides intensive rehabilitation focused on restoring function and independence.

Children and adolescents receive coordinated and concurrent physical and behavioral therapies. The goal is to help your child return to school, activities and daily routines.

A Team Focused on Your Child

Chronic pain affects many parts of life. Our team-based care brings together specialists from pain medicine, rehabilitation, therapy and behavioral health.

We also work with social work, recreational therapy, school services, integrative care, music therapy, child life, and pastoral care. This whole-child care helps address the needs that matter most to your family.

A Plan Built Around Your Child

Every child experiences chronic pain differently. Our team creates a personalized care plan based on your child’s needs, abilities and goals.

A dedicated clinical coordinator helps guide the process. This includes referral screening, insurance authorization and checking on your child’s progress.

Care for Families Across the U.S.

Families travel from across the country for specialized pediatric pain rehabilitation. About 70% of new patients come from outside the local or regional area.

Our national reach reflects the need for specialized care for children with severe chronic pain.

What Can We Expect During Treatment?

Your child will help the team develop a structured individualized plan centered around their unique needs, interests, and hobbies. The team will provide evidence-based intervention to help children and adolescents learn more about their pain condition, develop effective coping skills, rebuild strength and endurance with the goal of restoring function and returning to the activities that are important to them. Families also learn ways to support progress at during and after treatment.

Which Conditions Can the FIRST Program Treat?

The program cares for children and adolescents with chronic pain conditions. We also treat children and adolescents who, in addition to chronic pain, experience functional neurological and somatic symptoms. These include:

Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndromes
Complex regional pain syndrome
Widespread pain linked to joint hypermobility syndromes
Functional abdominal pain syndrome
Functional neurological disorder with co-occurring chronic pain

What to Expect