Health Concerns of Historically Under-Served Youth

A Columbia University study revealed that 46.1% of children under 18 live with someone that abuses drugs or alcohol. According to the Childhood Domestic Violence Association, 5 million children will witness domestic violence every year. The physical and mental health concerns for historically under-served youth are tremendous. Before coming to Bonnie Brae, most of our youth have suffered from some type of abuse, neglect, or abandonment and arrive after an average of 5.8 out of home placements. They often arrive hurt, confused, angry and lonely. Bonnie Brae offers them hope for a new beginning. Bonnie Brae’s comprehensive continuum of health services holistically provides compassionate care for each youth’s body, mind and spirit . The philosophy of our health office is to create an environment where medical services are provided to meet the individual health care needs of each youth and to establish an ongoing, trusting, therapeutic relationship. Our Health Office team works to ensure that our young people’s health needs are monitored 24/7. The Bonnie Brae Health Office provides psychiatric, pediatric, and dietary services. The goal of the health center is to help our youth thrive and survive. Our comprehensive program works to develop and care for  the following areas of our youths’ lives:

• Basic needs. The first step of our intensive care program is to provide for a youths' basic needs. This includes ensuring they have enough food to eat, shelter to keep them warm, and are safe.
• Physical health. Once the basic needs are met, we can begin to care for their physical health. We manage, administer, or reduce medications. We also screen for drugs, alcohol, and any pre-existing conditions. Additionally, our nurses develop and  provide a comprehensive treatment plan utilizing established medical providers for routine and specialty appointments as needed. Addiction treatment and management practices will follow, if necessary.
• Wellness and self-care. The final step in our holistic approach to healing is the promotion of wellness and self-care education. We also work to develop the youths’ personal life skills, including relationship building.

We understand that to help heal a boy or girl, you must also attempt to heal the family system they came from. We offer education and therapy for the families of all of the youth we serve, thus working to break dysfunctional cycles. Accredited by the Joint Commission, Bonnie Brae is one of the nation's preeminent residential treatment centers for historically under-served adolescent boys and girls who have been neglected, abused, or abandoned. We provide a safe place for boys, girls, young men and women in crisis, ages 12-21, a place for them to heal, to learn and to grow. We have helped over 13,000 youth and families since our founding in 1916. Please contact us today to learn how you can make a positive difference in a young man or woman’s life.