More than 100 invited guests attended a reception at AtlantiCare’s new Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center in Egg Harbor Township, Tues. In Dec., 2012, AtlantiCare opened its Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center at 6010 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, allowing it to locate its outpatient behavioral health services for children and adolescents in one convenient location*. Final touches – including the completion of the center’s play therapy room – were completed in March.
At AtlantiCare we’re really trying to transform the way we provide care,” said David Tilton, president and CEO AtlantiCare. “We are dedicated to enhancing care for everyone in our community. That, of course, includes the youngest – and sometimes – most fragile and vulnerable people.”
“Our physicians and staff – who know our patients and families best – have been intimately involved in making this a center that is welcoming to those we serve,” explained Julie Drew, system executive director, Behavioral Health, AtlantiCare.” Now, we can walk patients and families from one department to another, instead of giving them driving directions to go across town.” In addition to physicians and staff, Drew thanked Noel Forrestal, who was chair of the former AtlantiCare Behavioral Board and other past ABH Board members; the AtlantiCare Regional Health System Board; the project team and AtlantiCare leadership for their support of facility project and commitment to enhancing care and services for young clients and their families.
Lori Herndon, president CEO, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and executive vice president, AtlantiCare, highlighted programs the team offers and explained AtlantiCare’s commitment to the healing arts – which includes dedicating one percent of all new building costs to the arts. She noted the signature piece in the new center – a collage of paintings of 30 young clients. “It really symbolizes for our staff, what a difference each of them makes for our patients and families.”
“We are passionate and proud of the work associated with AtlantiCare Behavioral Health,” said Kenneth Steinberg, chairman of the AtlantiCare Regional Health Services Board, extending the Board’s thanks and congratulations to Drew and her team. “We know family life can be stressful, and when a child has a healthcare issue, it is even more so, as child and adolescent behavioral health issues affect the entire family. They can affect a child’s ability to function at home, in school and in other social settings. The AtlantiCare Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center brings together services – and the compassionate staff who provide them – to make access to this vital care more convenient for families.”
The engineer for the project was Schaeffer Nassar Scheidigg Consulting Engineers, LLC, of Mays Landing; architect was Costanza Spector Clauser, of Moorestown; and builder was Masset Building Company, of Egg Harbor Township.
Care at AtlantiCare’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center
More than 50 AtlantiCare Behavioral Health staff at the center including child psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, case managers, and support staff collaborate with clients’ pediatricians and/or primary care physicians, to care for the behavioral health needs of children from infants through age 18 for various behavioral health issues. Services they provide include, but are not limited to:
• Evaluation and assessment
• Individual and family
• Medication management
• Group therapy
• Art therapy
• Play therapy
Programs at AtlantiCare’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center
Individual, family and group programs AtlantiCare Behavioral Health offers at the center include, but are not limited to:
• AtlantiCare Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services
• AtlantiCare Child and Adolescent Acute Partial Hospitalization Program
• AtlantiCare Child Social Services Program
• AtlantiCare Family Care Network Program
• AtlantiCare’s Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Team
Facility stats
Located in a new 12,405 square foot building and 2,100 square foot newly renovated building, the center includes:
• A multi-purpose room that also serves as a gym
• Kitchen area for preparation and storage of meals
• Therapeutic play room
• Five group therapy rooms
• Bright, spacious reception areas
• Physician and staff offices
• Two conference rooms
• Artwork by local and regional artists
• A New Day – collage of artwork featuring works of approximately 30 clients
• On-site parking for 133 vehicles
* Due to the nature of the AtlantiCare’s Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Team’s work, there is also a team based in Marmora.
To learn more, view a video of the AtlantiCare’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center reception, call the AtlantiCare Access Center at 1-888-569-1000, visit www.atlanticare.org or find AtlantiCare on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticare. To reach AtlantiCare’s Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Team for an urgent, crisis situation, call 1-877-652-7624.
