MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – WEEMS Community Mental Health Center officials gathered Wednesday afternoon for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the expansion of the organization’s Division of Children and Youth Services in Meridian.
The new facility, located at 1929 23rd Ave., will expand mental health services for children and families in Meridian and Lauderdale County by providing additional therapeutic and educational programs for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.
“This is an extension of our children and youth services here in Meridian and Lauderdale County,” said Russ Andreacchio, executive director of WEEMS Community Mental Health Center. “This building joins our existing children and youth outpatient program in Lauderdale County.”
Andreacchio said the expansion will allow WEEMS to offer after-school day treatment programs, summer day treatment programs and preschool services designed specifically for children with emotional or behavioral difficulties.
“What this particular expansion will do is house after school day treatment programs and summer day treatment programs as well as pre-school programs for children that have emotional and/or behavioral problems,” Andreacchio said.
According to Andreacchio, each program will serve between four and 10 children and will be staffed by two mental health professionals.
“There are two mental health professionals that work in each program,” he said. “A master’s level therapist and a high school level employee. They work together to do therapeutic activities that hopefully will shape these youngsters’ lives in the future.”
Andreacchio said early intervention remains a key part of WEEMS’ mission.
“Our goal at WEEMS is to try and work with children for the obvious reasons,” he said. “To try to shape them and better them before they have more significant problems as adults.”
In addition to treatment programs, WEEMS Prevention Services provides school-based programs focused on life skills development and substance abuse prevention. The organization also offers presentations addressing issues such as bullying, suicide prevention and sexting awareness.
Community leaders, staff members and supporters attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
For more information about WEEMS Children and Youth Services, contact Adrienne Jones, director of the Children and Youth Department, at 601-482-7377.
