Mending Hearts & Minds Breakfast Huge Success
Akron Area YMCA and Douglas R. Kohl Receive Friend of Children Award
Akron, Ohio - 04-06-2011 - Each year, Child Guidance & Family Solutions (CG&FS) honors a leader in the community with the Friend of Children award. This year, CG&FS presented the award to the Akron Area YMCA and its President and CEO Douglas R. Kohl. Last year’s recipient recognized Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio for her work with the Crossroads program.
Accepting the award at the Mending Hearts & Minds Breakfast at Portage Country Club on March 23, 2011, Douglas Kohl said: “The Y and CG&FS both care passionately about the future of our children. We can accomplish so much more by working together for a common goal than either of us can do on our own.”
He discussed the escalation in mental health problems of youth, citing research that shows “approximately one in five children and adolescents experiencing problems severe enough to warrant their need for mental health services. Yet, fewer than 15% of those needing help receive the services they need… Within the next decade, mental illness is expected to be the country’s leading health care cost.”
According to Elaine Harlin, president of CG&FS, “The Y has been an excellent partner in helping preschoolers become ready for kindergarten. At this very young age, preschoolers are three times more likely to be expelled from preschool due to behavior problems than their counterparts in grades K-12. The Y and CG&FS are working together to identify and improve behavior concerns early.”
CG&FS and the Y are collaborating on The Resiliency Tool Box. This project will facilitate early detection and intervention of behavioral health challenges and connect those in need with professional clinical help. The collaboration will be expanded to serve the high risk youth at the YMCA Phoenix School who have trouble learning in a traditional school setting.
Child Guidance & Family Solutions is Summit County’s leading provider of behavioral and mental healthcare to children and families. The agency provides treatment and prevention services to over 4,000 children yearly and employs 150 professionals and support staff. For more information call CG&FS at 330-762-0591 or visit www.cgfs.org
Media Contact
Contact: Melissa Hamlin
330-762-0591 ext. 3312
