We provide support for children and families experiencing mental health challenges in Vermont.
Our services are only possible with your support! Please donate to our nonprofit organization to contribute to providing families with parent education, family home support, and mental health services for children in Vermont.
Essex Pediatrics Strengthening Families Initiative was created in July 2024 to provide support for children and families experiencing mental health challenges in Vermont. We provide access to integrated support services for mental health, education and skills development, and optimal parenting.
By focusing on mental health support systems, education and skill-building, and home-based services, we aim to support children and families in need and promote healthier communities within the State of Vermont.
Our organization is funded through grants—currently from OneCare and the Essex Pediatrics Doctors Office—with plans to expand our funding sources to include additional grants and community partnerships, as well as support from the general public.
A core component of our work is hosting mental health support groups for parents, caregivers, and children. These groups, facilitated by licensed mental health clinicians, offer:
Groups typically meet in our designated office space and are offered at no cost to families.
These support groups are designed to reduce barriers to mental health care, such as cost and limited access to providers, while fostering a sense of community and shared experience. By emphasizing coping strategies & communication skills, and understanding common mental health challenges, these groups empower parents and children to develop healthy habits that can positively influence family dynamics.
Our trained staff members conduct in-home visits with families identified as at-risk or in need of additional support. These families are generally referred by their primary care providers. During each visit, the home support specialist works closely with parents to provide:
In addition to providing direct at-home support for families, this program ensures that doctors remain informed about the family’s progress and can collaborate effectively with the home visitor.
These home-based services are provided at no cost to families and aim to address social contributors to health, reduce stressors that may contribute to the development of child behavioral or emotional issues, and strengthen overall family functioning.
To maintain high-quality, evidence-based programming, we provide training opportunities for both our clinicians and home visiting staff. These trainings—often conducted in partnership with mental health specialists, community organizations, and professional trainers—ensure that staff stay current on the latest research, therapeutic interventions, and best practices in pediatric mental health.
Carter Bradshaw, Executive Director
Phone
(802) 879-6556
Email
cbradshaw@essexpediatrics.com
15 Brickyard Rd
Essex Junction, VT 05452
Monday & Tuesday
9am – 5pm