Center for Children
May Is Mental Health
Awareness Month!
Children's Mental Health is Our Priority
Center for Children is Southern Maryland's leading organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and the promotion of positive Mental and Behavioral Health through crisis intervention, therapy and education.
Who We Serve?
Our outpatient clinic is licensed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene serving more than 4,500 individuals each year in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Howard, Prince Georges and St. Mary's counties.
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Our team of professional clinicians provide comprehensive mental health services including individual and family therapy, play and group therapy , psychological testing and evaluations, mental health evaluations and more than 19 programs and services for children and families.
Understanding What We Do
Center for Children is a private non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and the promotion of positive mental health through crisis intervention, therapy and education. We offer a wide variety of mental health services for the entire family.
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We believe that every child in need should have the opportunity to receive quality mental health care.
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We are Now Accepting
New Clients at All Locations!
How To Report Suspected Child Abuse
Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect. Reporting abuse or neglect can protect a child and get help for a family—it may even save a child's life. To report suspected abuse, please call your local department of social services. The Child help National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
10 Ways to Prevent Child Abuse
Be a nurturing parent - Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.
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Help a friend, neighbor or relative - Being a parent isn't easy. Offer a helping a helping hand, take of the children so that the parent (s) can rest or spend time together.
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Help yourself - When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control - take time out don't take it out on the kids.
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If your baby cries - It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry. Learn what to do if the baby won't stop crying. Never shake a baby - shaking a child may result in
serious injury or death.
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Volunteer - Center for Children had many volunteer opportunities for those interested. Call our office and volunteer for a program that fits you.
Get Involved - Ask the Center for Children, your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop
services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.
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Use parenting resources - Contact the Center for Children as well as your local library to find out what information, programs and resources are available and beneficial to you and your love ones.
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Promote programs in school - Teaching children, parents and teacher prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
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Monitor your child's... television, video and internet viewing/ usage. Watching violent films, TV programs and video games can harm young children.
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Report suspected abuse or neglect - If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call your local department of children and family services or your local police department.
Check our coronavirus response and the many ways we are working to keep families healthy, happy and safe.
Center for Children Programs
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Crisis Intervention
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Individual, Group & Family Therapy
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Child Assessments & Evaluations
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Psychological & Psychiatric Evaluation
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Case Coordination with other Agencies
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Prevention Programs
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Community Education
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Mentoring
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New & Teen Family Support
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Supervised Visitation
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Prevention Programs
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Advocacy in the Legal System
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Co Parenting and Divorce Education
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Training Seminars for Professional Development
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Case Consultation with other professionals
Symptoms of Child Abuse & Adolescent Mental Illness
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Poor academic performance at school
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Worries all the time
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Patterns of repetitive behavior
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Never laughs or smiles
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Doesn't listen to instruction
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Drug or alcohol use
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Child like behavior
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Hears voices or sees things that aren't there
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Plays with fire
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Intentionally hurts or is cruel to pets or animals
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fights constantly
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aggressive behavior
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Difficulty making friends
Center for Children Locations
Charles County, Maryland
Main Campus
6100 Radio Station Road,
La Plata MD, 20646
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2924 La Plata, MD, 20646
Local: 301.609.9887
Metro: 301.753.4002
Fax: 301.609.7284
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Anne Arundel County, Maryland
2661 Riva Road Building 600 Suite 601,
Annapolis, MD 21401
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Howard County, Maryland
5103B Dorsey Hall Drive
Ellicott City MD 21044
Prince Georges County, Maryland
4550 Forbes Boulevard Suite 330
Lanham, MD 20706
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St. Mary's County, Maryland
41900 Fenwick Street, Suite #1
Leonardtown , MD 20650
Local: 301.475.8860
CASA: 301.475.6667
Fax: 301.475.3843
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Calvert County, Maryland
489 Main Street, Suite 202
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Local: 410.535.3047
Metro: 301.855.1059
Fax: 410.535.3890