Overview
Our Mission
Our Guiding Philosophy
Whom We Serve
Treating Trauma
Leading In Our Field
Affordable and Accessible
Accreditation
Affiliations

Overview

Child Guidance Center is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and their families.

Founded in 1949 by Lincoln's Junior League, Child Guidance Center has been making a difference in the community by supporting families in their efforts to raise emotionally healthy kids.

Child Guidance Center provides a continuum of prevention, early intervention, and treatment options to meet every individual’s needs.

Services are provided by licensed mental health professionals with training and experience in the areas of psychiatry, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, relationship and family therapy, art therapy, play therapy, and counseling. Back to Top

Our Mission

Child Guidance Center is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of children and their families in the Lincoln area and surrounding communities through effective and flexible therapeutic partnerships and a commitment to advocacy and positive social change. Back to Top

Our Guiding Philosophy

Child Guidance Center has a philosophy that emphasizes understanding the unique qualities and experiences of each child as influenced by emotional and cognitive development, family situation, social environment, and personality.

Therapy with children is a dynamic, interactive process that examines problems while building on strengths. Back to Top

Whom We Serve

Treatment is available to youth ages 1-19 and their families from Lincoln and its neighboring areas who seek care for a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. Therapists work with clients who experience varying degrees of difficulty, but often see youth who are depressed or suicidal, engaged in high risk behaviors, or have suffered physical/sexual abuse and neglect. Back to Top

Treating Trauma

Acting out, destructive tendencies, self harm—these are all problematic behaviors in children and teens. The underlying cause of the behavior is painful and most often hard to face. They need to heal from the emotional hardship in order to move forward. That’s why Child Guidance Center is here.

Staff understand the importance of early intervention and treatment of emotional, physical, and/or environmental trauma. The idea is not only to correct the behavior but to help them heal from the pain, restoring hope for a better tomorrow. The agency has seen great results with this approach to treatment, with positive outcomes in more than 85 percent of youth served. Back to Top

Leading in Our Field

Offering the most comprehensive treatment options available in the state, Child Guidance Center is recognized as a leader in children’s mental health. This recognition is directly attributed to our dedicated and diverse staff of nearly 100 individuals. The depth and knowledge found here is surpassed only by a true passion to make a difference in every child’s life.

Within our committed group of employees are a number of Ph.D. psychologists, nearly 40 professionals holding master’s degrees, and clinical staff members with as many as 25 years of experience. Back to Top

Affordable & Accessible

Child Guidance Center is committed to making therapeutic services accessible to all youth and families in Lincoln.

No one shall be denied services based upon an inability to pay. Services are offered on a sliding-fee, ability to pay basis. Medicaid and insurance are accepted. For questions about fees and insurance, contact the Administrative Services Supervisor at 402-475-7666.

Staff are sensitive and responsive to the diverse cultural backgrounds and language needs of clients. The agency employs clinical staff fluent in Spanish and Vietnamese as well as a clinician trained to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to accommodate an increasing diverse community. Services to other ethnic groups are provided through the use of an interpreter. Back to Top

Accreditation

Child Guidance Center is accredited by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and is committed to providing safe and effective care to children and families.

If an individual has concerns about the quality of care provided within the agency, he/she is encouraged to contact the Executive Director at 402-475-7666. Unresolved safety concerns can be communicated to the Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610. Back to Top

Affiliations

Child Guidance Center is affiliated with the following community partners:

• Region V Systems
• Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services
• Lincoln Public Schools
• Lancaster County Youth Services Center
• Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations (NABHO)
• United Way of Lincoln & Lancaster County
• Magellan Health Services
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Helping kids find hope and healing.