News

Children & Family Resource Center hires mental health navigator

Emily Vickerman

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 22, 2023

Responding to a dramatic increase in mental health-related emergency room visits among children ages 10-17, the Community Foundation of Henderson County is helping fund a family mental health navigator at Children & Family Resource Center.

Emergency room visits for self-inflicted injuries increased by 26 percent and “suicide ideation” ER visits increased by 9 percent from 2020 to 2021, the Children & Family Resource Center said.

The agency announced this week that it has hired Emily Vickerman as its mental health navigator to connect caregivers with mental and behavioral health resources in Henderson County. Trained in trauma-informed practices, Triple P Positive Parenting Program and Circle of Security attachment-based parenting support, Vickerman also holds an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement.

“At CFRC, we are committed to providing professional support families can trust,” Executive Director Jamie Wiener said. “Our family mental health navigator will walk with caregivers every step of the way, exploring their child’s options, connecting them to services, and following up with providers to ensure the child has received care.”

The family mental health navigator will communicate with schools, counselors and pediatricians to coordinate services on the family’s behalf. Caregivers in need of mental health services for their child may schedule a free and confidential consultation with CRFC’s family mental health navigator by calling 828-698-0674.