Behavioral Health Walk-in Diagnostic Clinic for Children
Children’s Advantage, provider of family behavioral health services in Ravenna, is opening a walk-in diagnostic assessment clinic beginning June 5. A diagnostic assessment is the first appointment to assess the problem and determine the appropriate plan of treatment. Children’s Advantage provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy and child and adolescent psychiatry.
“Often the first phone call is the most difficult one to make for families, and when they call, they may need the service now, not days or weeks from now,” explained Kathy Regal, Children’s Advantage Chief Executive Officer. “Children’s Advantage is committed to responding to the needs of children and families of Portage County and developed the open access clinic as an easy and convenient option for these families.
With funding from the Mental Health & Recovery Board, Children’s Advantage also has therapists consulting at each school district in Portage County.
The importance of early detection and intervention is crucial. Adolescents with untreated mental illnesses are also more likely to drop out of school and have chronic physical health conditions in adulthood.
“Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14,” commented Regal. “For some youth, the onset of symptoms can be scary and confusing, and for some parents, it can be unclear whether what they are seeing in their teen is typical adolescent behavior and personality changes or symptoms of a mental health condition. We can help.”
The clinic will be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9am-3pm and Wednesdays from 9am-2pm and is located at 520 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna. Families are also able to schedule appointments by calling their office at 330-296-5552.
