MISSION

A community organization that provides and promotes quality services with care and compassion to enhance the emotional well-being and mental health of children, adolescents, and families.

OVERVIEW

As a mental health care system, we at Children's Service Center are deeply committed to the wellness of young people in our community. Our services are designed to meet the individualized needs of children, adolescents, and their families.

Children's Service Center's Assessment, Crisis, and Referral Services are staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week, by psychiatric professionals for initial assessment and referral.

We accept BC/BS, most indemnity insurance plans, CHAMPUS, Medical Assistance, and are a preferred provider for several managed care organizations and HMO plans.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

In 1862 the generous and kind women of our area were faced with meeting the "growing needs of children". They responded "one block at a time," building a shelter, an infants home, and an orphanage. The challenge presented by the children's growing needs was taken up again in 1938 when we constructed the first open child psychiatric residence in North America. The growing needs of children continue today. Once again, our caring and committed Board of Directors has responded "one block at a time" with an ambitious building expansion project.

We have purchased the Everett home on River Street in Wilkes-Barre. We are also renovating the Children's Home and constructing a new building. The new building will enable us to provide more specialty services such as expressive therapies (art, music and dance). The building project will present greater opportunities for family and community training and education. It will also allow expanded physical recreation and give us much needed office space. Collectively, the buildings create an ideal setting for our staff to provide an extensive and comprehensive array of services on and off campus.

Our expansion isn't just limited to facilities. We are also expanding into new areas such as adoptive services.

We also began our Functional Family Therapy, a highly intensive program for specially selected children and their families. Designed for severely emotionally disturbed and delinquent children, the program has been a cooperative effort with the Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) County program Office and Juvenile Probation of Luzerne County.

The challenges of children today are very complicated. In addition to having serious problems, they are also active in many systems at the same time. Thanks to the great work and cooperation of schools and other agencies, such as the United Way, we are able to meet those challenges.

As part of our commitment to continuing our tradition of excellence, we have been undergoing a major effort to become JCAHO accredited. Updating our strategic plan was a rewarding process. It has given us a clear focus on what is important in the present and in the future.

With nearly 400 staff and a budget that exceeds $10 million, we will continue to serve children and their families with creative, effective and innovative services. It is our strong belief that in serving children we serve the community. But none of what we do would be possible without our great Board and Staff - people who lead, people who serve, people who care. Because of their dedication and caring commitment, the Children's Service Center will be able to build a brighter future for children, adolescents, and families block by block.

Thank you.

Joe DeVizia
President