Sarah A Reed Children's Center has been chosen to be the recipient of this years Roar on The Shore.This is an article in celebration of that celebration.

1. VOL. XXXI NO. 8 | AUGUST 2018
A LEADER IN CHILDREN’S MENTAL
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
ON THE HILL:
PENNSYLVANIA’S U.S.
SENATE CANDIDATES
ADDRESS KEY ISSUES
SARAH A. REED
CHILDREN’S CENTER
SPOTLIGHT Q&A:
ERIE INNOVATION DISTRICT
OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES

2. Life-changing. That’s how Claudia describes her stay at Sarah A. Reed
Children’s Center. “Without Sarah Reed, I don’t think I would be where I
am today. Sarah Reed gives people chances to shine and do their best.
It’s a life-changing experience. Each of us takes so much out of Sarah
Reed: coping skills, life skills, social skills … just about everything.”
Claudia is one of the 52 children, ages 5-18, who currently resides at
Sarah Reed’s Residential Treatment Program in Millcreek Township. This
program provides round-the-clock medical, behavioral and educational
support to children with mental health and behavioral health challenges.
Sadly, 90 percent of the children in this program have experienced
trauma, neglect and abuse, which oftentimes is the source of their
mental and behavioral issues. A majority of the children are from Erie,
but many children travel from the Meadville, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and
Philadelphia region because of the high level of care and success this
program provides.
“It takes a highly trained staff to work with traumatized children, and
Sarah Reed is one of the few agencies in the region that is certified in
the highly effective Sanctuary® Model,” explains Center President and
CEO James Mando. “This evidence-based treatment plan creates a safe,
therapeutic environment where staff members focus on the severe
effects of trauma, asking the question ‘what’s happened to this child?’
rather than ‘what’s wrong with this child?’ “
This high standard of care sets Sarah Reed apart. The Center’s team of
psychiatrists, psychologists, medical staff, instructors and behavioral
staff are trained in trauma-informed care. They also utilize the latest
cutting-edge therapies to help children heal, strengthen their families
and teach them the necessary skills to succeed at home, in school and in
the community.
According to Mando, the Residential Program is Sarah Reed’s most
intensive treatment option, but there are a wide-range of programs
available that help more than 1,700 children and their families succeed
each year.
Sarah Reed serves all Erie County and Erie City School Districts by
providing alternative education services to students, and the agency
provides refocus rooms in Fairview, Iroquois, General McLane,
Northwestern and North East School Districts. Refocus rooms are
school-based programs that provide emotional, behavioral and/or
academic support to students in need.
Sarah Reed’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, located in
downtown Erie’s Professional Building, helps more than 730 local
children each year through individual and family therapy, psychiatric
medication management, parenting strategies and assessment
services to help children cope with loss, family stressors, trauma, anger
management, self-esteem issues and peer relationships. Outpatient
therapists offer Parent Child Interactive Therapy for children ages 2½ to
7, which enhances parent-child relationships and helps foster successful
parenting skills. The Outpatient Program also partners with several
school districts, including Millcreek, Fairview, Fort LeBoeuf, Wattsburg,
Union City and Villa Maria Academy to provide onsite therapy for
students.
According to Mando, the Partial and Acute Partial Hospitalization
Programs at Sarah Reed are also in high demand. These school-day
programs help more than 450 children annually with emotional and
behavioral disturbances. The goal is to restore a level of functioning that
enables the child to successfully return to a regular school setting, re-
enter the community and improve overall family functioning.
“The Children’s Center has
been a prominent source
of hope and support for
children and families in the
Erie Community since 1871
and is excited to expand
its services in order to
help even more families
succeed,” Mando says.
To learn more, visit www.SarahReed.org or call 814/838-1954.
COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE
A Leader in Children’s Mental and Behavioral Health Services
To meet the demand for 24-hour Residential care, Sarah Reed is building a fifth
residence hall. This 12-bed unit will help an additional 20-25 children annually.
James Mando,
President and CEO
7 mbabizmag.com • AUGUST 2018