Eliada Receives $50,000 Janirve Grant to Open New Cottage for Young Children

ASHEVILLE –November 2008- Eliada has received a $50,000 grant from the Janirve Foundation in support of a new residential cottage for young children ages 6-12. Earle Cottage, which will be ready to welcome its first young residents at the end of this month, represents a new direction for Eliada.

“We serve young children in our Child Development program,” says CEO Mark Upright, “but up until now our residential program has focused on adolescents. Adding this new residential cottage for this age group will help us fill a regional gap in care. We want to make sure we’re always responding to community need, and this is something that other providers and stakeholders have identified as a primary need.”

Earle Cottage will be what is known in the mental health world as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF). Eliada pioneered PRTF services in Western North Carolina in 2006, opening the first of two adolescent PRTF units. Children who need PRTF care have extremely intensive mental health needs, and are often sent far from their homes due to lack of available PRTF placements. Last year, over 50 children were sent out of North Carolina entirely because of this shortage in PRTF providers.

“We know that children do better when their families or caregivers are involved and a part of their treatment. Family involvement is especially crucial in ensuring a child’s success after they’re discharged from Eliada. When children have to be sent away because there is no local facility that can meet their needs, that makes family involvement extremely difficult and is a huge obstacle for their long-term success. That’s why we feel it is so important to provide this type of high-level care locally,” says Upright.

The Janirve Foundation has long been a friend to Eliada, and supported the opening of the original adolescent PRTF unit along with many other projects dating back to the Foundation’s inception.

According to Michelle Robinson, Eliada’s Director of Development, “We are extremely grateful to the Janirve Foundation for once again demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the children and families of this region. Janirve’s generosity has contributed to the success of many important initiatives at Eliada. Our most sincere thanks go out to the Janirve Foundation on behalf of the all the students, staff, and board members of Eliada.”

About Eliada
Eliada is a 106 year old non-profit agency serving North Carolina’s children and families. Founded in 1903 by Dr. Lucius Compton as a home for women and children, Eliada’s full service continuum includes NAEYC accredited Child Development Services (Pre School, After School, Summer Camp, More at Four); Residential and Day Treatment for children and adolescents; In Home services; Foster Care and Therapeutic Foster Care; and Therapeutic Recreation services. The agency enters its second century with pride, committed to the fulfillment of its mission statement: Helping Children Succeed.