Penfield Children's Center

Penfield Children’s Center is named in honor of Dr. Wilder Penfield (1891-1976), a world-renowned neurosurgeon who strongly advocated early intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities. His quote, “Never underestimate the capacity of the very young, and never, never let them down,” has been the foundation of Penfield’s mission since 1967. His knowledge and wisdom underlie our philosophy of care for infants and young children. Today, serving more than 1,500 children annually, Penfield offers high-quality, integrated services and a safe and stimulating environment for children, families, and community partners to maximize early development and learning.

In partnership with Marquette University, the Behavior Clinic at Penfield Children’s Center helps children manage their emotions, reduce disruptive behaviors, and process traumatic events such as the death of a loved one or domestic violence. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our mental health therapists are using telehealth services to teach essential coping skills that help children reduce stress and anxiety including deep breathing techniques, sensory activities, mindfulness exercises, and feelings identification.