Most of us are shocked to learn that children, by the age of three or four, can experience such serious behavioral and emotional problems that they will require up to 15 hours of therapy every week for nearly one year. Fortunately Salt Lake County is home to The Children’s Center, a mental health agency dedicated to the care of these very vulnerable children and their families.

Founded more than 40 years ago by Dr. Agnes Plenk, The Children’s Center has established a legacy of effective therapy for infants, toddlers and preschoolers with emotional and behavioral problems. We are the only mental health resource in the Salt Lake Valley specifically providing treatment for families whose young children are struggling with psychiatric problems including hyperactivity, depression, anxiety, severe opposition and aggression. Many of those children have been traumatized as witnesses of domestic violence, or have themselves been victims of abuse and neglect. Early intervention is critical because the longer problems go untreated the less amenable they are to change, and the more expensive they are to treat.

In order to continue fulfilling our commitment to our children and families, we are launching a far-reaching initiative for 2006.

This ambitious $13 million effort will ensure a strong future for The Children’s Center. The campaign will proivde long-term funding for dynamic programs, the attraction and retention of expert personnel, and the building of a new, easily accessible facility to better serve the expansion of the Wasatch Front.