Children's Charter - a Non-Residential Program offered by Key in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Children’s Charter

Children’s Charter is a Specialty out-patient mental health clinic for survivors of sexual, physical, emotional, and interfamilial/multigenerational trauma. The clinic was founded in 1985 and is located in Waltham, MA. It is founded on the belief that traumatized children, adolescents and adults are among the most underserved population in our community.

We offer specialized assessment and treatment services anchored in a comprehensive knowledge base, informed through experience and evidenced-based interventions, and provided by clinicians who are supported through multi-disciplinary clinical teams. We believe this represents both the child’s and the family’s greatest hope to find validation, safety and the tools for recovery.

SPECIALIZED TRAUMA SERVICES

• Trauma Evaluations
• Risk Assessments
• Parenting Evaluations
• Comprehensive Family Evaluations
• Psychological Testing
• Psychopharmacological Assessment and Treatment
• Play Therapy
• Expressive Arts Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Training
• Consultation

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS

• Project "We Can Talk About It", specialized mental health services for women and children who have witnessed traumatic violence in their homes and communities.
• Group Therapy Program for children who have witnessed domestic violence.
• In-Home Therapy (IHT) – Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative
• Statewide Forensic Trauma Evaluations for families that present complex clinical and legal issues.
• Foster Parent Partnership Program, "Three Legged Stool", a specialized mental health service for Foster Parents.

Programs Details:

Outpatient Mental Health

Specialized trauma treatment services for children, adolescents, adults and families who have experienced trauma:

• abandonment
• chronic illness
• emotional abuse
• family violence
• interfamilial/intergenerational trauma
• intimate partners violence
• neglect
• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• traumatic loss

Project We Can Talk About It

Since 1994, our multidisciplinary team has provided outpatient therapy for children and adolescents who have witnessed domestic violence as well as their non-offending parent.  We also offer family therapy and work closely with local domestic violence programs and legal services to offer comprehensive supports for families to maximize safety and build connections.

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)/free services are available for Latina immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence and their children. Outpatient therapy is available in both English and Spanish.

This program is funded by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA).

Services Include:

• Family Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Psychopharmacological Assessments and Medication Management

Payment Options:

• BC/BS
• MassHealth
• Neighborhood Health Plan
• Self Pay
• Victim's CompensationSelf Pay
• VOCA

For more Information and to make Referrals:
Lulie Munson, LICSW, Intake Coordinator
(781) 894-4307 x 20

Privacy Notice Children's Charter MOVA 
Privacy Notice Children's Charter MOVA Spanish Version

Group Therapy Program

Children’s Charter offers 12-week supportive counseling groups for school age children and adolescents who have experienced family violence.  The groups are free of charge.

Payment Options:

• Groups are free of charge, funded through Department of Public Health

For more Information and to make Referrals:
Lauren Porter, LMHC, Group Specialist
(781) 894-4307 x 54

In-Home Therapy (IHT) – Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative

The In-Home Therapy Team works with families to develop a treatment plan that focuses on:

• Changing problem behaviors
• Helping the family to understand the child’s needs
• Improving family communication
• Preventing behavioral health crisis
• Setting limits

We provide IHT services for as long as it takes to stabilize a child’s condition.

Payment Options:

• MassHealth

For more Information and to make Referrals:

In-Home Therapy Intake
(781) 894-4307 x 51

Forensic Services

The Forensic Services Team is a multidisciplinary group of clinicians who provide independent clinical evaluations of children, parents, and families involved with Child Protective Services.  The evaluations address parental functioning, attachment issues, and effects of exposure to trauma, abuse, and neglect. Other issues may include assessment of risk. They include recommendations regarding mental health services and other interventions. The evaluations are relevant to questions about custody, permanency planning, and placement. If required, evaluators can provide expert testimony regarding the findings of the evaluations.

Services Include:

• Trauma Evaluations
• Parenting Evaluations
• Risk Assessments
• Comprehensive Family Evaluations

Payment Options:

• Most evaluations are funded by the MA Department of Children & Families (DCF)
• Self Pay

Forensic evaluations are not covered by health insurance

For more Information and to make Referrals:
Elizabeth Palladino, LICSW
(781) 894-4307 x 69

Foster Parent Partnership Program: Three-Legged Stool

In-Home Consultation Service for Foster/Pre-Adoptive Parents caring for children with significant trauma histories; emphasis on attachment and trauma theory.

Services include:

• In-home clinical consultation, psychoeducation and parenting interventions
• On-call clinical consultation
• Advocacy for foster families and foster children with schools regarding services that address the child’s emotional special needs
• Attending community collateral meetings with foster parents
• Support foster families as they negotiate protective issues and the court process
• Assist foster families in identifying appropriate clinical services in their community and function as a liaison for foster families with treatment providers

Funding Options:

Funding is through the Department of Children and Families Family Networks Contract

For more information and to make Referrals:

Paula Stahl, EdD, Director
(781) 894-4307 x 19

Children's Charter Multi-Disciplinary Team

• Director: Paula Stahl, EdD
• Clinical Director: Norah Hass, PsyD
• Medical Director: Olivia Carrick, MD
• Director of Forensic Services: Kristin Alexander, LICSW

Clinical Staff

Children's Charter clinicians have extensive experience and specialized expertise in child, adolescent and adult trauma. Team members have additional expertise in Offender Evaluations, Parenting Evaluations, Domestic Violence, Foster Parenting, and Grief and Loss.

Our specialized Multi-Disciplinary staff consists of Psychiatrists, Clinical and Forensic Psychologists, Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors and an Expressive Arts Therapist.

Children's Charter offers services both in English and Spanish.

Privacy Notice Children's Charter
Privacy Notice Children's Charter Spanish Version

ONLINE PAYMENT INFORMATION 

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Office Information

Children's Charter
77 Rumford Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone: (781) 894-4307
Fax:      (781) 894-1195

Clinic hours:
Monday - Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 5pm