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For many families, long wait times and uncertainty are common barriers when seeking out mental health services for their children. Now, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) is immediately connecting families with professional care through the new Walk-In Mental Health Assessment Clinic at its Belden location.
Through a grant from the Austin-Bailey Wellness Foundation, the walk-in clinic provides immediate access to professional mental health assessments for children and adolescents without the need for a scheduled appointment.
“As a community mental health agency, we know many families struggle with where to start or how to access services,” said Melissa Coultas, CEO of C&A. “This program is designed to remove barriers and help families receive support earlier, before challenges escalate into a higher level of care.”
Families, who aren’t required to be existing patients at C&A, are guided through the intake process by staff and meet with a clinician the same day.
After the intake process is completed, children and families meet with a diagnostic assessor, who conducts a comprehensive evaluation to identify concerns and assess the child or adolescent’s needs. Based on the assessment, the family then receives a diagnosis, identifies treatment goals and learns about appropriate services and next steps for care.
Coultas said the goal of the walk-in clinic is to create a welcoming environment for families seeking help.
“Our priority is helping children and families heal,” she said. “Families who walk through our doors will be met with compassion, support and no judgment.”
Founded in 1976, C&A is a full-service, trauma-informed mental health organization specializing in the emotional and behavioral needs of children, adolescents, young adults and their families.
The nonprofit serves more than 9,000 children and families annually and aims to strengthen Stark County by empowering youth and families to build healthy, resilient lives. Through this clinic model, even more residents across the community will be connected with mental health care and support.
The Walk-In Mental Health Assessment Clinic is open from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at C&A’s Belden office at 4641 Fulton Drive NW in Jackson Township.
Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals through a variety of charitable funds and strategic initiatives. Ranked in the top 10% of community foundations in the country, the foundation and its family of donors have granted nearly $300 million to nonprofits since 1963. Learn more www.starkcf.org.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health opens walk-in clinic