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 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!

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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. 

Download and complete new client intake forms online 

Center for children now offers telehealth options for children & teens.

Center for Children Programs

  • Crisis Intervention 

  • Individual, Group & Family Therapy

  • Child Assessments & Evaluations

  • Psychological & Psychiatric Evaluation 

  • Case Coordination with other Agencies 

  • Prevention Programs 

  • Community Education 

  • Mentoring 

  • New & Teen Family Support 

  • Supervised Visitation 

  • Prevention Programs 

  • Advocacy in the Legal System

  • Co Parenting and Divorce Education 

  • Training Seminars for Professional Development 

  • Case Consultation with other professionals 

Symptoms of Child Abuse & Adolescent Mental Illness

  • Poor academic performance at school 

  • Worries all the time

  • Patterns of repetitive behavior

  • Never laughs or smiles

  • Doesn't listen to instruction

  • Drug or alcohol use

  • Child like behavior

  • Hears voices or sees things that aren't there

  • Plays with fire

  • Intentionally hurts or is cruel to pets or animals 

  • fights constantly 

  • aggressive behavior

  • 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

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