Essex Pediatrics Strengthening Families Initiative was created in July 2024 to provide support for children and families experiencing barriers to wellness in Vermont. We provide access to integrated support services for mental health, education and skills development, and optimal parenting.
By focusing on addressing barriers to wellness, 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.
Structured group work can be a successful approach for people who are seeking mental health support. Attendees receive evidence-based information from our counselors on topics such as parenting, anxiety, depression, and strategies to support their well-being.
New dates coming soon!
Learn parenting strategies to support your child with their anxiety or OCD. Connect with other parents going through similar experiences. Develop insight into how anxiety might show up and how best to manage accommodations.
New dates coming soon!
10-12 year olds therapeutic lego group to engage in peer relationships, self-esteem and growth.
Join us as we connect you with other caregivers with similar experiences to yours. Share your challenges, successes and gain support. Pizza and childcare provided!
To register, please contact Carter at 802-735-4136.
Connect with other caregivers with similar experiences to you. Caregivers who are raising a child with a mental health challenge can come together to validate each other’s experiences, share advice and connect. Caregivers who participate have children with different levels of mental health challenges, but some examples include children that have needed a higher level of care, have a large treatment team or have persistent mental health challenges.
“Supporting my child in the mental health system can feel so isolating, it is nice to connect with other caregivers who get it”.
This group is facilitated by Marley Powden, LICSW and Shannon Porter, our mental health coordinator.
Enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack while connecting with other mothers with similar experiences. This group is open to mothers of babies under seven months old. To register for either group, or receive additional details, please contact our family home support provider Katie at 802-383-8540.
New dates coming soon!
Learn coping strategies to help ease worries and calm your brain/body! Ages 10-12 (with flexibility)
Next class dates coming soon!
Join us for a 5 week series to learn about parenting challenging behaviors through positive attention!
Carter Bradshaw, Executive Director
Phone
(802) 879-6556
Email
cbradshaw@essexpediatrics.com
15 Brickyard Rd
Essex Junction, VT 05452
Monday & Tuesday
9am – 5pm