Rainbow’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division relies on providing empirically-based, scientifically-supported approaches to treating children and adolescents today and discovering the optimum treatments for youngsters in the future. Key areas of re search include treating substance abuse, obesity and eating disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders and devising means to prevent bipolar disorder development in children at genetic risk for this illness.
Behavioral Pediatrics research focuses on children with traumatic brain injury, as well as healthy lifestyles for children with chronic conditions. In the largest behavioral pediatrics and psychology division in the region, our specialists design and test intervention programs for the prevention of negative health outcomes (such as obesity or osteoporosis) via healthful eating and positive physical activity. They also aid parents and families in supporting children so they establish and maintain healthy lifestyles. These experts conduct developmental follow-up studies of children with early brain insults due to conditions such as traumatic brain injury and extremely low birth weight. Our findings enable us to pinpoint problem areas, identify children and families in need of special services, and initiate efforts to enhance children’s development. In addition, Rainbow developed the first “Children Who Witness Violence” program in the United States to provide crisis counseling and long-term services to children and families impacted by violence.
Rainbow is especially proud proud to have partnered with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission that brought the International Children’s Games to Cleveland. Three thousand children from around the world participated in Olympic competition and built a bond with the United States that will last a lifetime. We continue to sponsor children’s baseball, softball and gymnastic teams throughout Ohio. Our sports medicine team, comprised of pediatricians, surgeons, therapists and psychologists, is the official healthcare provider for the Ohio Youth Soccer Association North. | This year, Rainbow launched the Arts, Health and Wellness Fund to allow us to continue bringing the creative and performing arts and “Healthy Kids” programming to children to promote better, healthier lifestyles. This goal is exemplified in the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Ballet Series at Playhouse Square Center. This sponsorship allows 6,000 inner-city children to attend the theater every year. Children throughout northeast Ohio also become active participants when artists travel to their schools for demonstrations and mini-productions. Rainbow’s repertoire of kids’ programming includes “Reach out and Read,” a national pediatric, office-based literacy program started by Dr. Robert Needlman, a Rainbow pediatrician, “Daily Dose of Reading,” and “Arthur’s World,” a four-month interactive collection of educational events for young children.
Rainbow is one of only a few hospitals that offers a comprehensive Child Advocacy and Protection program. In 2004, Rainbow began a “No Hit Zone” campaign to educate parents that hitting is never an option for discipline. Our Community Safety and Resource Center also works with community, law enforcement and medical personnel on child protection issues, including safe child discipline methods, child passenger safety, sports safety, teen and senior driving safety, fire safety and unintentional firearm injury prevention. The Center’s researchers test and evaluate interventions to define the most effective methods of reducing pediatric injuries. In addition, the Greater Cleveland Poison Control Center is staffed by Rainbow experts who offer emergency treatment advice and answer questions about medicines and poisons. |