Millions of Americans are affected by Mental Health each year. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year.1
A rising problem occurring in the US is now being seen in mental health for children and teens. It is estimated 20% of youth ages 13-18 live a with mental health condition.1
Hope Haven’s mission is to ensure that children and families realize their full potential by providing specialized services and individualized educational opportunities.
Keeping to their promise, Hope Haven provides a variety of Mental Health Services to help children and families be more independent, educated and engaged in community life.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors provide an initial intake session in order to understand the presenting problem, identify the child’s strengths, and develop a plan for treatment and support. Counselors seek to eliminate risk factors that may be present and to build and enhance protective factors. Providing supports to the children and families early can often prevent the development of larger behavioral health issues later in life.
On the rise at Hope Haven are infant mental health cases. We have found that early intervention for children and caregivers is key.
“Infant Mental Health considers emotional, social, and relational development during the ages of birth to age 5,” according to Emily Foltz-Holland, Director of Clinical Services at Hope Haven.
The focus is on building capacity for a secure relationship with a primary caretaker and growing/enhancing a baby’s ability for emotional regulation. Work is done jointly with the caretaker and the baby to ensure positive development for the baby, as brain development can be affected by stress, environmental factors, and relationships. It has been estimated that more than a million neural connections are formed in the brain each second during early development. Thus, infancy is a critical time to ensure loving, caring, stable relationships are present and to provide experiences that build emotional regulation to prevent mental health issues later in life.
Hope Haven is proud to have trained, qualified Licensed Mental Health Counselors who have clinical competency in the area of infant mental health.
Hope Haven also provides community outreach support to students and teachers in the greater Jacksonville area. Hope Haven finds value in providing services on site in a school setting, which eliminates the barriers of transportation and insurance. Examples of partnerships with schools include The Guardian Schools, the Tiger Academy, and the Jewish Community Alliance. Counselors are able to build social-emotional skills in the classroom setting and in small groups, ultimately building emotional wellness.
Hope Haven’s goal is to help break the stigma of Mental Health and bring awareness to the city of Jacksonville about their programs and services.