Building the Foundation for Playful, Healthful, and Hopeful Living for Children and Families.

At the Center for Child Counseling (CfCC), we provide evidence-based programs for infant and early childhood mental health to further our mission of building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children and families in Palm Beach County.

We train and build the capacity of infant and early childhood mental health clinicians.

We also educate caregivers and communities about childhood mental health and the lifelong effects of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences).

Our Focus

Our Organization & Our Work

CfCC uses evidence-based and research-informed programs to deliver the best services possible.

Our programs are:• Focused on working through a trauma-informed

lens• Based on a multigenerational approach• Age appropriate• Child centeredTo effectively prevent and treat mental health disorders within a population, we target children aged birth to 12 and their families. Our programs are administered by highly-trained and experienced registered clinicians.

We also provide mental health consultation and psychoeducation to teachers, parents, and caregivers to establish a “new way of being” with children.

This model is designed to go beyond generalized mental health disorders. It provides therapeutic treatment for children experiencing toxic stress and trauma during the most crucial time of their development to yield the most postive and happiest outcomes.

Who We Are

Child First This is a national, evidence-based model specially designed to work with the most vulnerable young children and their families by providing intensive, highly-responsive, home-based services.

Our Programs

Infant Mental Health ProgramSince a key component of our approach is prevention and early intervention, this program provides counseling for pregnant women, new mothers, and very young children experiencing trauma and toxic stress.

Childhood Trauma Response ProgramThis program provides professional assessment and highly-skilled counseling for children from birth to 6 entering the foster care system.

Fighting ACEs InitiativeThis campaign provides education, advocacy, outreach, and intervention focused on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) which impact not only mental health but the physical wellbeing of a person throughout their life.

Institute for Clinical TrainingOur institute offers clinical workshops for professionals, a year-long internship program for students, and community-wide workshops for teachers, parents, and caregivers.

School Mental Health ProgramThis program is funded by the Children’s Services Council and provided in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County. It is located in ten elementary schools in the most at-risk neighborhoods and provides intensive care for children identified as needing one-on-one services.

CCSEW Program (Childhood and Community Social-Emotional Wellness)

CCSEW focuses on prevention, early intervention, and treatment for young children throughout Palm Beach County with services including:• Child-Parent Psychotherapy• Filial Family Therapy• Child-Centered Play Therapy• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)• Circle of Security©

Children's Behavioral Health CollaborativeThis collaborative provides counseling and support services for at-risk children and their families in need of behavioral health services throughout Palm Beach County.

Child and Family CenterOur center is a safe, welcoming place where children and families can find the space they need to heal, resolve problems, learn new skills, and re-discover the joy of being a family again.

Our Research-Based WorkOur model uses research as the basis of support for all its programs and embraces a public health approach to achieve results.

Our model is based on the very latest research on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), the neurobiology of toxic stress, and the brain architecture of the developing child.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

• The Centers for Disease Control conducted a 20-year longitudinal study on ACEs and theireffect on the developing brain and long-term morbidity and mortality.

• An ACE score of 4 or more doubles the risk of heart disease and cancer. It increases the risk ofalcoholism by 7 times and attempted suicide by 12 times.

• People with high ACE scores have higher rates of divorce, unwanted pregnancies, prescriptiondrug abuse, broken bones, and obesity.

• Without positive intervention, those with 6 or more ACEs die, on average 20 years earlier thanthose with no ACEs.

• High doses of exposure to ACEs dramatically increase the risk for 7 of the 10 leading causes ofdeath in the United States.

Biology and Neurobiology of Stress

• The biology of stress activation explains why significant hardship or threat (from abuse,neglect, or extreme poverty) can lead to physiological and behavioral disruptions that can havea lasting impact.

• Frequent or extreme experiences that cause excessive stress can be toxic to the architecture ofa child’s developing brains and can overload an adult’s capacity to productively engage with

their work, family, and community.• Significant adversity early in life can set up the body’s systems to be more susceptible to

stress throughout life, with long-term negative consequences for physical and emotional health,educational achievement, economic success, social relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Brain Architecture and Brain Plasticity: First 1,000 Days of Life

• Brain architecture is comprised of trillions of connections among neurons across differentareas of the brain. These connections enable lightning-fast communication among neurons thatspecialize in different brain functions.

• The basic architecture of the brain is constructed through a process that begins early in lifeand continues into adulthood. Simpler circuits come first and more complex brain circuits buildon them later. Genes provide the basic blueprint, but experiences influence how or whethergenes are expressed.

• Working together, this circuitry shapes the quality of brain architecture and establishes either asturdy or a fragile foundation for all future learning, health, and behavior.

• Plasticity, or the ability for the brain to reorganize itself and adapt, is greatest during the first1,000 days of life. This plasticity decreases with age.

Epigenetics

• Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression caused by the modification of genes thatdo not include changes to the underlying genetic code.

• Our experiences may be woven into our child’s, and even our grandchild’s, genetic code.• Early identification and prevention of mental health concerns for families, as well as for

children, can have a profound impact on life-long success.• Research on maternal depression shows that children are particularly at risk if women with

depression remain untreated.

Intergenerational Transmission of ACEs

ACEs perpetuate generation after generation based on genetic make-up, learned behaviors, and parental experience or exposure to ACEs.

Serve and Return

• When an infant or young child babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriatelywith eye contact, words, or a hug, neural connections are built and strengthened in the child’sbrain.

• Given the foundational importance of the first few years of life, the need for responsiverelationships in a variety of settings, starting in infancy, cannot be overstated.

CfCC’s Unique ModelA Public Health Approach to Preventing and Treating the Effects of Trauma

We use a research-informed model with a public health framework to focus on community health AND individual health, to prevent AND treat disorders. With this approach, we blend the medical and public health approaches for wellness, taking into account the effects of trauma on successful treatment.

We target the entire socioecological model: individuals, families, peers, communities, society, and policy change.

We promote responsive relationships to stimulate healthy brain development and provide the buffering protection needed to prevent very challenging experiences from producing a toxic stress response.

Early on, we provide therapeutic services to support the healthy development of sturdy brain architecture.

We provide individual, classroom, small group, and family support.

We offer treatment, education, and training to promote emotional competency, self-regulation strategies, social emotional wellness, and healthy attachment.

We train the systemic partners serving children. This training includes information on trauma, its effects, and how to adopt a trauma-informed lens.

Training is provided to the following audiences:

1. Teachers2. School Administration and Staff3. Pediatricians4. Law Enforcement

5. Judicial System6. Child Welfare7. Early Childhood Education8. Parents

Partnering

The SituationOur schools and students are in crisis. Rates of depression, violence, and school shootings are rising. Our schools do NOT provide the layers of prevention, early intervention, and treatment needed to support student mental health. The time has come to provide a therapist for every school. Students need support. Families are under extraordinary pressure – financial, psychological, and societal. They need support, too. We can address all these issues by partnering with schools, which are the ideal places to identify problems early and prevent children from falling through the cracks.

The SolutionWe’re bringing a fresh, new solution to an escalating issue.

Our evidence-based program helps children succeed by equipping them with skills needed to self-regulate and encouraging the development of autonomy and resilience. We help teachers and caregivers by building skills to help students’ social-emotional growth, ensuring an environment where all are free to learn. Equipping teachers and staff with information and practical techniques will take schools to new levels of success.

Our School Mental Health ProgramWith support, our goal is to expand co-located services.

OutcomesOur model works and the results are impressive but, more importantly, behind the numbers are REAL CHILDREN who are finally getting the help they need to heal, cope, and eventually thrive.

We use an outcome-based process of service delivery with regular data collection using instruments, rosters, and pre/post-tests, which are tracked using spreadsheets and an Electronic Health Record.

Skills attainment is measured through observation tools, consultation forms, and simple pre/post-tests for students, teachers, and caregivers to assess learning and progress.

Primary Measurable Outcomes:

• 85% of teachers will demonstrate increased understanding of child development, behavior & needs.i. Measure feelings of competency: Integrating skills in the classroomii. Teacher’s perception of change in classroom disruption, scale on ability to self-regulate,

comments and feedbackiii. Teacher’s ability to be trauma-informed, self-regulate, be reflective, and identify triggers.

• 85% of teachers will improve pre to post assessment with increased knowledge of trauma, itseffects, and improved trauma-informed practices.

• 85% of parents/caregivers will demonstrate increased understanding of child development,behavior and needs.

• 85% of students will demonstrate increased self-regulation.

• 85% of students will demonstrate decreased internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

• 90% of the school’s classrooms, from pre- to post-test, will demonstrate an improvement in climatethat supports social-emotional wellness as evidenced by improvement in self-regulation and on-taskbehaviors.

• 85% of children, from pre- to post-test, will demonstrate improvement in social-emotional wellnessand behaviors (ability to identify feelings, adopt appropriate coping skills, and buffer stress).

School-Based Outcomes:

• 25% reduction in absences

• 85% reduction in classroom disruption

• 75% reduction in Baker Acts

• 75% Reduction in disciplinary reports

• 75% Reduction in unnecessary school nurse visits

Recognition and AwardsOver the past twenty years, the Center for Child Counseling has been recognized for excellence in programming, including being the recipient of the 2005 National Easter Seals Award of Excellence, the 2008 Blue Foundation Sapphire Award, and the 2018 Hats Off Nonprofit of the Year in Palm Beach County.

We have also published “A Way of Being with Children: Managing Feelings and Behaviors in the Classroom and Beyond”. This manual is used to provide teachers and caregivers with a model for effectively responding to children’s behavioral concerns.

Center for Child Counseling is a Platinum-level Guidestar Exchange recipient and has been a Top-Rated Nonprofit through Great Nonprofits each year since 2012, which demonstrates our commitment to transparency and excellence as an organization.

• 2018 Hats Off Nonprofit of the Year• 2018 Nonprofit of the Year, Great Nonprofits• 2017 HeadStart Partner of the Year• 2017 Hats Off Executive of the Year Award• 2008 Blue Foundation Sapphire Award for Excellence in Health• 2006 recipient National Easter Seals Award of Excellence

Major Funding SourcesMajor sources of funding include the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Quantum Foundation, Medicaid, Palm Beach County Community Services, Farris Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, Palm Beach County Youth Services Department, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation, Jim Moran Foundation, Private Family Foundations, private donations, sliding scale fees, and fundraising events.

Bringing the Community Together

Center for Child Counseling is building the foundation for healthy, resilient children and families through an ACEs-aware and trauma-informed community.

561.244.9499www.centerforchildcounseling.orgPlayful • Healthful • Hopeful

The Economic Impact of Adverse Childhood ExperiencesResearch shows that investing in early childhood mental health and development provides opportunity to increase productivity and profitability, while effecting positive change across multiple generations.

What are ACEs?Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are “the leading public health issue of our time.” In the absence of healthy or buffering relationships, childhood trauma and adversity can have a devastating impact on the minds and bodies of children. Research confirms that children carry the effects of ACEs throughout their lives.

Why is this Important?A leading nation gives children the opportunity to grow up in a healthy, happy environment. Investing in children improves outcomes and their prospects for a successful future. Caring for children helps prevent the need for more costly intervention and treatment later in life.

How Does this Affect Me? ACEs can lead to a lifetime of issues for individuals including mental and physical health difficulties and a shorter life expectancy. As a result, ACEs negatively impacts businesses, and society in general.

• Higher Health Care Costs • Increased Incarceration Rates• Lower Productivity and Lost Work Days• Lower Educational Achievement• Mental Health Outcomes Which Inhibit thePopulation’sAbilitytobeSelfSufficient

People with a high ACEs score die 20 years

younger than average

Each ACE a child experiences increases their score, the higher score the greater risk

Each year, ACEs cost USA employers $17 to $44

billion in lost work days

ACEs contribute to 200 million lost

work days each year

20

7:1Return on Investment For every $1 spent on

preventing ACEs, society receives a $7 ROI over

a person’s lifetime

$100,000 +More in Lifetime Earnings

$15,000 +More in Taxes Paid

$28,000 +Healthcare Savings

$7,000 +Public Services SavingsFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON FIGHTING ACEs

www.centerforchildcounseling.org/about-us/fightingaces

1 in 4 children live in poverty in Palm Beach

County and are at high risk

Children with an ACE Score over 4 is 10X more likely to abuse drugs as adult

$124 Billion The annual cost of ACEs in USA (The Center for

Disease Control estimate)The jail system is the largest provider of

mental health servicesin Palm Beach County

To establish our leadership role in childhood mental health and ACEs education in the community, we provide instructional workshops and awareness activities throughout Palm Beach County, including our 2nd Annual Lead the Fight breakfast and our 10.10 ACES event (held on Oct. 10th) which brought together over 50 leaders from approximately 20 sectors to brainstorm practical and implememtable solutions in a cross-functional brainstorming workshop.

Invites YouTo join key leaders for an important conversation on strategically addressing

the effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

#FightingACEs

Center for Child Counseling

Date: October 10th, 2018Time: 8:30am - 10:30amPlace: Riviera Beach Marina Event Center

190 E. 13th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404This think tank will include key influencers from 18 sectors, focused on finding practical

actions and implementable solutions to the issue of ACEs in our diverse community.

A special thank you to Quantum Foundation for their vision and

support of vulnerable children in Palm Beach County.

Center for Child Counseling’s work moving forward:

• We will continue to educate communities on trauma and its effects on children and families.• We will continue to educate communities on a research-based and trauma-informed public

health model for infant and early childhood mental health.• We will increase access to evidence-based programs for infant and early childhood mental

health in Palm Beach County.• We will increase access to evidence-based mental health training for infant and early childhood

clinicians in Palm Beach County.

During 2018 - 2019, we will serve 4,600 children across all our programs.

We will provide individual counseling using CFC/CTR/IMH for approximately 1,600 children.

Our CCSEW Program will serve approximately 3,000 children, including those receiving classroom assistance/observation. The program is co-located in 9 childcare centers plus the Boys and Girls Club, AVDA, and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies venues.

We serve children in elementary and middle schools throughout Palm Beach County, and are currently expanding to 10 more elementary schools identified by the School District as serving the most at-risk communities in the county.

Our Strategic Future

“Early is best when it comes to changing the course of a child’s life.” - Darcy Lowell, Child First