The expanded Behavioral Health Center will now see patients at its new location on the hospital’s Beeghly campus in Boardman.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Akron Children’s hosted a community open house to celebrate the expansion of its Behavioral Health Center at 6614 Southern Boulevard, Building E, on the hospital’s Beeghly campus in Boardman.
The event’s ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer Lisa Aurilio, who recognized Akron Children’s commitment to providing access to mental health services for local families. The hospital’s Chaplain Sean Drummond dedicated the building, and Akron Children’s employee Paige Schantz shared words of gratitude for bringing mental health programs closer to home for families.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was well attended by hospital physicians, staff and leadership, as well as local officials and donors. Paige Schantz (fourth from left) spoke at the opening about her son, who benefited from the partial hospitalization program that will be coming to the Behavioral Health Center in Boardman on Jan. 7.
“My son struggled to cope after losing his dad and benefited from the partial hospitalization program at the hospital’s Akron campus…it absolutely saved his life,” said Schantz. “I can tell you first-hand that having access to this program right here, in our local community, is huge. It’s an extraordinary service.”
The center features open space and large rooms for art, group and family therapy, as well as 9 individual therapy rooms.
The single-story, 9,048-square-foot center will offer mental and psychiatry services for adolescents and teens with emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders, as well as group and family therapy. Beginning Jan. 7, the center will also feature a partial hospitalization program to provide patients with a structured program for psychiatric services that doesn’t require an overnight stay.
Visitors at the open house enjoyed tours, art therapy demos and fun with bubbles.
At the open house, a scavenger hunt path led visitors through the new space, which featured bubble magic entertainment, prizes and winter-themed cookies. The tour also featured art therapy demos, which patients will be able to participate in as part of group therapy at the center.
The new center opens for patients on Dec. 10. For hours of operation or to find a physician, download the Akron Children’s Anywhere app.
A special thank you to donors whose contributions made the construction of the expanded Behavioral Health Center possible, including Kikel Charitable Foundation, Hine Memorial Fund, Peg’s Foundation, James and Coralie Centofanti Charitable Foundation, Thomases Family Endowment Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, William B. and Kathryn Challiss Pollock Personal Foundation, Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation, Walter and Helen Bender Memorial Fund and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.
