is pleased to announce its
2008-2009 Funding Target:
Child and Adolescent
Behavioral Health Unit
What is Behavioral Health?
Behavioral Health addresses a wide range of psychological issues children face, including chronic and terminal illness, eating disorders, autism, bullying, stress, peer pressure,
violence, loss and bereavement.
Why Behavioral Health?
The National Mental Health Information Center reports that one in 10 children/adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairment. Left untreated, mental illness can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence and suicide. While Florida is the fourth largest state, it is ranked 48th in per capita spending on mental health services, and Northeast Florida receives the least
funding of any area in the state.
How will proceeds from the 2008 Art & Antiques Show be used?
A new 11-bed Behavioral Health Unit, part of the six floor expansion of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, will centralize services of the region’s only full-spectrum pediatric mental health facility. Three full-time psychiatrists currently treat more than 500 inpatients annually, as well as children in the hospital’s medical and surgical units.
What services does the Behavioral Health Unit offer?
The unit is divided into two parts: children ages 6 to 11 and patients 12 to 17 years old. The inpatient program helps children facing acute emotional problems that disrupt their ability to function in life. A partial hospitalization program, or daystay, is for children discharged from inpatient services. It also offers an eating disorder program, a weight management camp and parenting education programs. In development is a program that, in partnership with the cardiology clinic, will provide nutritional and psychological support for patients with cardiac conditions, diabetes and cancer |
