Center for Resilience

The Center for Resilience's mission is to improve the emotional well-being and academic readiness of children by delivering high-quality, interdisciplinary care, and collaborating with partners to develop new programs that meet the needs of our region's children and families.

Nationally, one in five children and adolescents has had a serious mental health disorder, and one in sixty-eight children is diagnosed with an Autism or Related Spectrum Disorder, double the 2000 diagnosis rate. Studies suggest that approximately 60 percent of children in New Orleans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and New Orleans children are 4.5 times as likely as their peers nationwide to demonstrate signs of Serious Emotional Disturbance. And, although approximately 10 percent of students with behavioral disabilities are served outside of typical school settings nationwide, just 0.4 percent of students in Louisiana are served in alternative settings, highlighting the absence of appropriate placement and intervention options.

To address these unmet needs, CfR provides caring, non-punitive, therapeutic milieu with positive behavioral supports, trauma-informed approaches, evidence-based mental health practices, small-group classroom instruction, and therapeutic recreation activities.

Our most important intervention, however, is our intentionally healing-centered, trauma-informed, relationships-based environment, in which adults demonstrate unconditional positive regard for children and model healthy relationships. We implement a number of evidence-based interventions, including Collaborative Problem Solving, restorative justice practices, and Therapeutic Crisis in Schools. Our impact includes:
- 60% reduction in rates of hospitalizations, pre- and post-placement
- 80% decrease in number of behavioral crises on-site, over time
- 100% of parents rate themselves as Satisfied or Very Satisfied with Center for Resilience
- 83% of children successfully transitioned back to home school when transition plan is implemented

Testimonials

"CfR Team- extremely thankful that you exist and have been supporting our students so well over the past few years. [Student] had a remarkable turnaround and is off to high school ready to knock it out from day one. Wouldn't have been possible without your program."
Niloy Gangopadhyay
Founder and Former School Leader, Success Prep Academy

"This is the first time someone has looked at my child as a person."
Parent of child at Center for Resilience

"I have hope for the first time in three years."
Parent of child at Center for Resilience