Sanctuary for Integrated Health and Wellness Park Hamilton Campus – 2971 Harvard Road • Erie, PA • 16508

About the Hamilton Campus and the Plans for Expansion: One of the integral programs Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center operates is a partial hospitalization program at the former Hamilton School on Harvard Road in Erie, PA. The partial hospitalization program is the primary service that is currently being provided at the Hamilton Campus, along with a therapeutic daycare program that serves children in preschool and kindergarten. This specialized daycare is a private, non-profit program and is the only one of its kind operating in Erie County. Partial hospitalization services offer a safe, therapeutic environment for children to explore conflict resolution, anger management and family relationships, learn coping skills and adopt positive social skills that are reinforced for use in the home, school and community. This vital program includes an early childhood component for ages 3-8, a school day component for grades 2-12 (ages 8-18), an after school component for grades 1-8 (ages 6-14), and an acute component for ages 5-14. This current facility is already operating at capacity and cannot accommodate any additional services. It is the desire of Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center to expand its behavioral health and outpatient services in order to reach more children and families – bringing the hope, healing and support services they need to lead healthy, successful lives. When the plans for the school and the Hamilton Campus were originally developed, a school-based health center was an integral part of the overall plan. This health center would serve the children and families receiving services at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, the staff, and all individuals who reside in the surrounding community. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center’s Collaboration with Primary Health Network: Through the years, it has been obvious that many of the children served at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center are not receiving basic medical care due to lower income levels, lack of education, etc. The poverty rates in this area are particularly devastating. In 2010, 17.4% of Erie County residents lived below the poverty level, and in 2012, the percentage of children under 5 below the poverty line in Erie County was an astounding 28.1%. This shows the dire need for immediate access to medical care for children and families in the Erie Community. With the addition of Primary Health Network’s health center, Sarah Reed’s Hamilton Campus will truly be an integrated health facility, providing a one-stop-shop for wellness in Erie, PA. Primary Health Network is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that will provide medical services to individuals regardless of their ability to pay - this includes medical, dental, vision, mental health, podiatry and an array of additional health/mental health services. The health center will also offer a host of preventative care services to the community such as blood pressure screenings, flu shots, eye exams, smoking cessation programs and stress reduction seminars. Sarah Reed's collaboration with Primary Health Network is truly a win-win situation for the Erie Community. Individuals of all ages will be able to obtain the medical attention they need at the health center, and they will also be able to reap the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of the adjacent Sanctuary for Integrated Health and Wellness Park.

Sanctuary for Integrated Health and Wellness Park Project: Currently there is an open athletic field at the Hamilton Campus that our students utilize as well as the children and families in the surrounding community. Our vision is to transform this limited-use field into a state-of-the-art space designed to promote physical health, mindfulness, therapeutic activities, and cognitive/intellectual development. This park will be a very unique outdoor space unlike any other playground in the area. The innovative site plans include a butterfly and bird-watching area with plants and flowers to attract wildlife; contemplative areas with benches, large rocks, trees and sand; gross muscle movement area with trails, paths, a labyrinth, grassy areas; playground areas; a basketball court; a soccer field; an auditory sensory area with bells and chimes, drums and tubes; and finally, a safety area complete with parking, lighting, dividers and boundaries. This park will indeed be an educational and therapeutic sanctuary for the children who participate in the partial hospitalization program at our Hamilton campus, the children in our residential treatment program (located at 2445 West 34th Street in Erie, PA), as well as for our staff, parents, and families in the surrounding neighborhood and throughout the Erie community. Our Goal for the Park: Sarah Reed’s main goal for the Sanctuary for Integrated Health and Wellness Park is to improve the physical, mental and emotional health of the children and families we serve, as well as our local residents in the Erie community. One of the biggest health issues facing Erie and our nation is childhood obesity. Recent statistics show that the number of obese and overweight children is continuing to climb. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009–2012 the prevalence of obesity among children aged 2–5 years was 10.2%, 17.9% among children aged 6–11, and 19.4% among adolescents aged 12–19. Childhood obesity has been linked to shorter life spans and a number of health factors that can affect children including Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stress on bones and lungs, high cholesterol, joint disease, irregular menstrual cycles, stroke, gall stones, gout, sleep apnea and possibly cancer. Furthermore, obese children are often teased, bullied and discriminated against, and the psychological effects can include feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and embarrassment. Thus, it is critical that we assist the children and families in the Erie community in identifying healthier lifestyle and eating habits. The Sanctuary for Integrated Health and Wellness Park will be a state-of-the-art facility that will encourage physical fitness and improve the overall health of our Sarah Reed children, families and staff, as well as the members of the Erie community. Funding Opportunities: Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center is seeking financial support from community partners in order to make the outdoor wellness park a reality for the Erie Community. If you are interested in learning more about how you can make a contribution, please contact:

Gary L. Bukowski, MA, CFRE Vice President of Development Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center 2445 West 34th Street Erie, PA 16506 (814) 835-7602 GBukowski@SarahReed.org