New program focuses on mental health care for children
Effingham Daily NewsJun 13, 2017
"Life is complicated for kids nowadays," said
ICARE Kids, comes to
While ICARE focuses primarily on mental health for children, ages 5 to 18, insured by Medicaid, the program is expected to be available to
"Just as it is important to learn math, it is also important to learn to cope with strong emotions -- sadness, fear, frustration," said Carey. "We don't look at people as though something needs fixed. We like to build on what they are doing right."
The program is intended to help young people with mild to moderate behavioral issues and often treatment of depression, anxiety, anger issues and adjustment issues.
"One of the reasons we're partnering with a doctor's office is because we want to get away from the stigma of mental illness," said Carey. "We want to treat the whole individual. You can't separate the mind from the body."
Carey added that the ultimate goal is to help children be happy.
Also, helping young people cope with stress in a positive manner is another goal. Issues that bring up problems sometimes stem from a divorce, death, separation, or dealing with parents who are addicts.
"The goal is to make their life more comfortable," said
ICARE stands for Innovative, Coordinated, Accessible, Research-based and Efficient, said
Miller added that SIHF is there to offer support to the child and the entire family, providing medical, dental and behavioral care to help the children grow well physically and emotionally.
"Each child receives a mental health assessment and the clinician creates an individualized treatment plan to help the child and their family reach their goals in counseling," said Livingston.
Carey said while medication interventions can be helpful, it should be coupled with therapy to learn life coping skills that stay with the child forever.
"We don't expect parents to have the skills a trained therapist would have," said Carey. "That's one of the things I love about being here. Their parents are buying into the idea and we work together."
By the end of 2017, ICARE Kids will open at three more sites in
The program is expected to serve 5,700 patients in six counties --
For more information contact Livingston at 217-238-5701.
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