Institute for Child and Family Health (ICFH) Adds Developmental Specialists on Team

ICFH Receives Funding For Healthy Steps For Young Children

MIAMI, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Institute for Child and Family Health (ICFH), a non-profit organization that offers prevention and treatment programs for children and families in Miami-Dade County, today announced it has received $250,000 to fund the Healthy Steps for Young Children program from The Children's Trust. Healthy Steps for Young Children (Healthy Steps) is a national initiative that focuses on the importance of the first three years of life. Healthy Steps emphasizes a close relationship between health care professionals and parents in addressing the physical, emotional, and intellectual growth and development of children from birth to age three.

ICFH's Healthy Steps Program is the first in serving the north area of Miami-Dade County. Designed for all families, but specifically targeting at-risk families, Healthy Steps allows physicians to expand services beyond those concerned solely with the physical health of young children.

"I am thrilled to be able to offer the Healthy Steps Program at ICFH's Pediatric Clinic," said Dr. Maite Schenker, Ph.D., Coordinator of Infant Mental Health. "Healthy Steps responds to research showing that early attention to young children's overall development enhances the possibility that a child will enter school ready to learn."  

ICFH is uniquely qualified to provide the Healthy Steps program and provide high quality enhanced well-child care for at-risk young children in the north area of Miami-Dade County through its myriad of mental, primary, behavioral and developmental health services.  Too often these needs are not met by pediatric practices, resulting in missed opportunities to identify and address problems at an early stage. Healthy Steps is a way to provide these services as part of regular pediatric care for young children.

About ICFH

The Institute for Child and Family Health (ICFH) is a private, not-for-profit organization that has been providing health, behavioral health, educational and prevention services to the children, adolescents and families of Miami-Dade County for over 60 years. It is one of the oldest and largest community health centers exclusively dedicated to the well being of children and families in the state of Florida. ICFH serves over 40,000 children, adolescents, and families per year. For more information about ICFH, visit www.icfhinc.org. Become a fan on Facebook and on Twitter to receive latest news.

CONTACT: Alina Plasencia of the Institute for Child & Family Health (ICFH), T: +1-305-722-5322, F: +1-305-688-3889, [email protected]

SOURCE Institute for Child & Family Health