Helen Ross McNabb Center will soon complete construction on Therapeutic Preschool, which will provide intensive early intervention services to children ages two-five who have been abused or neglected, or who have experienced trauma of any kind.
"Each year, thousands of children living in East Tennessee are subject to trauma and abuse, which can lead them to struggle to succeed in school or lead a healthy life. It is especially important that these children receive the treatment they need to address their Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in a safe and therapeutic environment," officials said.
“We are excited to begin offering this service to children in need in our community,” said Gayle Lodato, Helen Ross McNabb Center’s senior director of services in the Chattanooga region. “Children affected by ACEs have special emotional needs that many childcare and school facilities are not equipped to accommodate.”
Children enrolled in the Therapeutic Preschool program will attend three hours per day, three days per week for 10 weeks. During this time the children will learn to identify emotions and how to effectively express them in everyday situations. The children will also learn how to identify safe adults to utilize in a time of crisis.
Chattanooga’s Therapeutic Preschool program was made possible by Helen Ross McNabb Foundation fundraising, including private philanthropy, United Way funds, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga grants, Robert F. Stone Foundation grant, First Horizon and UNUM.
Helen Ross McNabb Center expects the program to enroll its first class in April and will celebrate the new program with a ribbon cutting.
For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call 1-800-255-9711.