RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES AWARDS DAVID LAWRENCE CENTER A $10,000 GRANT FOR NEW CHILDREN’S WELLNESS PROGRAM

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES AWARDS DAVID LAWRENCE CENTER A $10,000 GRANT FOR NEW CHILDREN’S WELLNESS PROGRAM

Naples, Fl – The David Lawrence Centers, Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit mental health and substance use treatment facility serving children, adults and families, is pleased to announce that Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida has awarded the center a $10,000 grant for the addition of wellness services for children and adolescents on the Crisis Stabilization Unit.

With this generous gift, the Center will fund a new outdoor recreational therapy program designed to help children and adolescents in the Crisis Stabilization Unit better integrate physical, mental and emotional well-being into their daily lives after discharge. The Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit is a 4-bed, non-hospital, inpatient mental health unit that provides brief voluntary and involuntary evaluation and treatment for individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis. Children and adolescent clients on the Unit stay for an average of 2-3 days for emergency mental health stabilization.

The funds will be used to install a multi-purpose child and adolescent sized sport fitness court and launch a formal physical fitness program. Fitness items such as jump ropes, hula hoops, athletic balls, work out DVDs and stationary bikes will be purchased.

Through participation in the program, children and adolescents will be provided with a variety of wellness focused educational services, along with opportunities for safe, structured groups and outdoor recreation activities. The wellness program will provide access to approved exercise equipment, nutrition classes, art therapy, pet therapy and aromatherapy all designed to help children and adolescents in crisis improve their social skills and coping methods while encouraging them to strive for a healthier life-style. The program also includes an initial and post self-evaluation and referrals to available, affordable community wellness resources.

The goal of the Children’s Inpatient Wellness Program is to empower children and adolescents with mental health challenges to improve their overall quality of life, reduce stress, and increase their knowledge of simple and effective ways to improve general health and emotional well-being in the future.

David Lawrence Centers Director of Acute Care and Emergency Services Mary Ann Guerra said, “We are pleased to partner with Ronald McDonald House for the first time on this exciting new endeavor, modeled after our successful Crossroads wellness program utilized in adult detox and residential rehab services. The goals for this program are very much aligned with Ronald McDonald House’s mission to help ensure strong minds, strong bodies and safe, supportive places for children to grow.”

The Center will continue to accept and solicit donations of equipment items on an ongoing basis. For more information or to make a donation, call (239) 491-7602.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida’s mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children in Southwest Florida. The national body of Ronald McDonald House Charities® and its global network of local charities has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to organizations supporting children worldwide. Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida provides grants to qualified charities providing service to children throughout the local area. They are committed to funding solutions that address serious children’s issues.

About David Lawrence Center
David Lawrence Centers is the Southwest Florida-based, not-for-profit leading provider of behavioral health solutions dedicated to inspiring and creating life-changing wellness for every individual. The Center provides innovative, comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, residential and community based prevention and treatment services for the one in four local children and adults who experience mental health, emotional, psychological and substance use challenges. David Lawrence Centers has seven locations in Collier County and touches the lives of more than 50,000 people each year. For more information about David Lawrence Centers call (239) 491-7602 or visit www.DavidLawrenceCenter.org.

Apr 06, 2016 | Press Releases

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