Kobacker Center to celebrate 30 years

May 1, 2013 | Events, UToday
By Brian Purdue



The Kobacker Center, located at The University of Toledo Medical Center, will celebrate 30 years of providing service to the community this year.

The Kobacker Center staff posed for a photo. They are, from left, Tamara Cerrone, nurse manager; Stephanie Beeler, staff nurse; John Stover, occupational therapist; Karon Price, agency executive director; Sue Stechschulte, staff nurse; Jocelyn Kambas, staff nurse; and Virginia Deakin-York, clients rights officer.

The Kobacker Center staff posed for a photo. They are, from left, Tamara Cerrone, nurse manager; Stephanie Beeler, staff nurse; John Stover, occupational therapist; Karon Price, agency executive director; Sue Stechschulte, staff nurse; Jocelyn Kambas, staff nurse; and Virginia Deakin-York, clients rights officer.

Dedicated in August 1983, the center specializes in the behavioral and emotional needs of youth. It is the only inpatient hospital in northwest Ohio that cares for the mental health needs of children younger than 9 and the only agency in the area that offers a complete continuum of inpatient and outpatient care in one location.

“The need for inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment for children and adolescents continues to grow,” said Tamara Cerrone, nurse manager for the Kobacker Center. “The center will continue to provide and improve the quality, family-centered care in our community and continue to be active in research, new therapy modalities and school-based preventative programs.”

The center has helped develop many different services that promote strong inclusion of families in the treatment process. Along with registered nurses, the center has a team of occupational, art, therapeutic and recreation therapy staff to assist patients with expressing feelings and needs safely as well as increasing self-esteem. Tutors with the center assist families with keeping clients up to date on schoolwork to avoid additional stress.

The center provides diagnostic assessments, medication management, individual and group therapy, and continues to run after-school and summer programs. In addition, staff members have started to provide services directly to patients in their home schools.

There will be a rededication of the center Friday, Sept. 6.

To help recognize Mental Health Awareness Month this May, members of the Kobacker Center will participate as a team — Kobacker Kids — in the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk Saturday, May 11, on Health Science Campus. Proceeds will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Toledo.

Those interested in the walk or joining the Kobacker Center’s team can visit namiwalks.org/greatertoledo.

For more information about the Kobacker Center, call 419.383.3815.

Click to access the login or register cheese