Special to the Canton Repository

For 50 years, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with Stark County’s children and families, helping them grow, heal and thrive through every challenge.

Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (C&A) is a leading nonprofit here in Stark County, but many are unaware of the significant number of lives we touch every day. We are working to change that and find people in the community ready to help us build the next 50 years of hope for Stark County youth.

We serve more than 4,000 kids each year by providing mental health services: a person to talk to, a mentor to help them grow, a place where kids with trauma can go to school and a place to hear a voice of reason where no one is turned away because of income.

Right now, we invite you to become a mission builder and continue this journey. Whether you donate, volunteer or bring us in to share our story with your workplace, service club or faith community, your support fuels the hope and healing kids need. Together, we can make the next 50 years even stronger.

Today’s children face challenges unimagined 50 years ago. They need us to be stronger, bolder and more united than ever for the next 50 years and beyond.

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Back in 1973, the idea for a mental health agency dedicated to children and teens was sparked by the Stark County Community Mental Health Board (now Stark Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, StarkMHAR).

By 1976, a visionary collaboration between education leaders, Family Court and Jobs and Family Services brought this idea to life as the Child and Adolescent Service Center, now known as C&A. At the time, it was groundbreaking for a county to create a mental health agency solely focused on young people. That commitment laid the foundation for generations to come.

Like the families we serve, we have grown and adapted. Our programs evolve as needs change, and we build partnerships to make help nearby and accessible.

To strengthen our work and maximize resources, we recently consolidated most services into three main locations: Belden, Plain and Alliance. Our administrative, clinical, psychiatric, human resources, finance and intern teams now work side by side at Belden. Prevention programs, some school-based, multi-systemic therapy services and marketing run out of Plain Community. Families can visit our Alliance office by appointment at the Alliance Commons.

Meanwhile, our Trauma Informed Day Treatment School remains at the Shipley building, continuing its vital work with students.

These moves bring our teams closer, spark collaboration and infuse our work with fresh energy and vision. We remain the same caring people you know, dedicated to our mission and ready to support every child and family who needs us.

Our success depends on the community we build. Every child who finds comfort with us, every parent who trusts us and every teacher, coach, pastor, neighbor or community partner who connects a struggling child to care is a mission builder.

Mission builders include families and partners such as StarkMHAR, United Way, YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, JRC, local preschools and daycares, school districts and community foundations. Anyone whose life has been touched by our work and who helps carry our mission forward is part of this powerful network.

Looking back on 50 years, we are proud of the programs that show our commitment to meeting the changing needs of Stark County’s youth:

Care Pathway: Providing hope and safety for children feeling overwhelmed and alone.

Juvenile Justice Program: Delivering specialized treatment for youth learning to make better choices and supporting safer school environments.

Multi-Systemic Therapy: A 24/7 in-home program with a 90% success rate that helps families tackle tough challenges together.

Trauma Informed Day Treatment: Helping children heal from trauma and succeed academically, with a 95% success rate.

Our staff members are building the mission every day. They show up with compassion, skill and fierce dedication. They listen without judgment, find creative answers to complex problems and stand beside families during their hardest moments. They work across teams and treat every child as if they were their own.

Their passion makes Stark County a place where kids know they are safe, supported and never alone.

So, will you stand with us? Become a mission builder in your own way. Together, we can ensure every child in Stark County has the chance to grow, heal and thrive.

To learn more or get involved, call us anytime at 330-433-6075 or visit www.childandadolescent.org. We’d love to hear from you.

Melissa Coultas is chief executive officer of Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health in Canton.