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On February 21, 2015, the Center for Child Counseling hosted their 2^nd Annual Black Ties and French Fries fundraiser at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. With Sunny 107.9’s Jennifer Ross and Bill Adams as the event’s emcees, this year’s theme was Wonderland. The event raised over $25,000 to support babies and young children in Palm Beach County who have experienced trauma, violence, abuse and other risk factors that impact healthy development.

Unfortunately, acts of violence and abuse toward young children in our community and around the nation are prevalent in the news and highlight the critical need for prevention and early intervention efforts. Data reports show that children under the age of 5 are placed in foster care at a faster rate than any other age group due to abuse and neglect. “Violence and trauma during the early developmental stages results in changes to the brain,” states Renée Layman, the Center for Child Counseling’s Chief Executive Officer. “Through research, we now know that these early experiences change the brain architecture, impacting health and learning in childhood and throughout the lifespan.”

Over the past fifteen years, the Center for Child Counseling has developed expertise and programs grounded in research about infant and early childhood mental health, focusing on promoting social-emotional health in the earliest years of life, which decreases an array of emotional and physical problems later in life. Board Chair, Bill Lynch, an engineer in private practice brings personal experience as a father and grandfather to his role at the Center for Child Counseling. “I was drawn to the mission of the Center for Child Counseling because of my experience and desire to make a lasting impact in our community,” states Mr. Lynch. “We are helping the youngest, most vulnerable children in our community, while providing parents and other caregivers with positive strategies to promote healthy family relationships. We believe that this is the foundation for building healthier communities.”

The proceeds from Black Ties and French Fries in Wonderland will be used to support the Center for Child Counseling’s prevention and early intervention efforts in local childcare centers in at-risk neighborhoods. “Early Childhood Mental Health is our expertise and the foundation of our mission. We know that this period of life provides the foundation for physical and emotional health throughout the lifespan,” says Ms. Layman. “This fun event for the entire family will support a critical cause while engaging children in giving back to vulnerable children in our community.”

At the Center for Child Counseling, we have a clinical internship program that offers a variety of experiences for Bachelor's and Master's level interns attending local and online universities. 

Our interns receive in-depth training and supervision so they graduate with a solid foundation in the use of effective strategies for working with children and their families. Interns have the opportunity to provide individual, dyadic, and family services at our Child and Family Center in Palm Beach Gardens, where they can utilize state-of-the-art learning tools at the Hartman Learning Center, generously funded by Ruth Hartman. Our beautiful Play Therapy room at the Palm Healthcare Pavilion offers an additional learning environment, thanks to the generous support of the Palm Healthcare Foundation. Interns also have the opportunity to provide an array of services at childcare centers, including individual and group play therapy, geared towards very  young children and their caregivers. 

Meet Anna Jorge: MSW Intern from Edinboro University

My name is Anna Jorge and I'm a first year MSW (Master's of Social Work) intern with the Center for Child Counseling. My MSW program offers online classes with Edinboro University, over the course of 2 years (full-time). 

I was born and raised in the Palm Beach Gardens area and graduated from the University of Florida in May, 2014 (Go Gators)! I began my internship in August 2014 and it has been an incredible experience. The Center for Child Counseling is filled with knowledgeable, compassionate, friendly, and skilled staff members who work to provide the best experience, not only for clients, but for interns as well. I consider myself incredibly blessed to be a part of this team and I look forward to continuing my internship through May of 2016!

For more information about the Center for Child Counseling's internship program, please call 561-244-9499 ext. 3 or email Clarissa DeWitt. 

2014 has been a year of tremendous growth with opportunities to help more children and families in our community. For example, as a approved Medicaid provider and partner in the Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative, we have expanded school and home-based services throughout the community, supporting more children and families with mental health needs. This has only been possible because of the tremendous passion and dedication of our board, staff, interns, and volunteers and the support of amazing individuals, community partners, and foundations who believe in our mission. 

 A very special thank you to...

Quantum Foundation...for your continued support. We are deeply grateful.

Palm Healthcare Foundation...for your generosity and vision in supporting behavioral health in our community.

Town of Palm Beach United Way...we are incredibly honored to be a new partner agency and look forward to working together to support young children.

The Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea...we are grateful for your support in expanding our program.

Ruth Hartman...for your generous contributions and support of our mission.

Kirsch Family Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties...for the generous grant to support our programs. 

Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties...for the GreatGive! What an incredible day of giving to support our community.

Our Partners...we thank all of our community partners, especially Boys Town South Florida, Families First of Palm Beach County, NAMI of PBC, FAU Community Health Center, YWCA of Palm Beach County, Apostolic Child Development Centers, Aid for Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), and Faith Lutheran Preschool.

In response to the County's request for proposals this summer, key leaders from Boys Town South Florida, Center for Child Counseling, Families First of Palm Beach County, NAMI of PBC, and FAU Community Health Center developed the CBHC. With five core partners, and agreements with over 25 other organizations, the collaborative was formed to help build healthy communities through a seamless, accessible, and recovery oriented system of care for children and their families in need of behavioral health services throughout Palm Beach County.

A New and Better Way to Find the Right Services for Children

 The Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative takes behavioral and mental health services to a new level in Palm Beach County by: 

• Making it easier for families to get the help their children need;
• Providing a comprehensive system of care that can help children succeed in school, at home and in the community;
• Ensuring children and their families have access to an array of services to meet their individual needs;
• Improving communication and cooperation between referral sources and service providers; and
• Improving communication and cooperation between parents, children and other family members. 

Participating Agencies and Primary Roles:

• Boys Town South Florida: Care Coordination Services
• Center For Child Counseling: Individual, Family, and Group Therapy
• Families First of PBC: Individual, Family, and Group Therapy
• Florida Atlantic University's Community Health Center: Psychiatric Assessment, Medication Management, Health Services and Research Report
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: Peer Support, Family Education and Support, Functional Skills training, Advocacy and Outreach

West Palm Beach, Fla. (June 28, 2014) --- The Center for Child Counseling hosted a special reception at the Palm Healthcare Pavilion, 15 Years of Healing Hearts, to celebrate the Center’s 15 year anniversary. Community leaders, professionals, and business partners attended this special event where the organization’s founder, Jane Robinson, was honored for her vision and dedication to helping the youngest children in our community.

Two mothers, Sybil and Jennifer, shared their personal stories reflecting on how the agency, founded as All ‘Bout Children in 1999, impacted the lives of their families. Jennifer Hardiman, mother of Alex and the Center’s volunteer Development Chair, spoke about her family’s journey after adopting Alex from an orphanage in Russia. “Alex played out his early experiences in the Play Therapy room…lining up the toys, just like the orphanage. Jane helped Alex work through that trauma in a safe environment and he is now thriving. We are so thankful.”

Guests attending included Palm Healthcare Foundation and Quantum Foundation staff, Don Chester, Assistant Administrator at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Tradrick McCoy, Legislative Assistant to Representative Bobby Powell, Dr. Ted Greeer, CEO at Center for Family Services, and Beth Walton, CEO of Town of Palm Beach United Way. Florida Community Bank and Fabuluxe Events sponsored the event.

We are so grateful to our supporters over the past fifteen years,” stated Renée Layman, the Center’s Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to expand Jane’s vision of helping the youngest children in our community who have experienced abuse, neglect, and violence. She started this work in our community before most of us knew you could work with such young children…now research shows that early intervention is critical. We are so grateful for the donors and funders who share our vision of developing healthier families and communities by investing in our youngest citizens.”