Page 4 - Jupiter Spotlight - December '23

Page 4, Jupiter Spotlight
Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine Appointed

As Medical Director Of Center For Child Counseling

Center for Child Counseling our community by advocating for the continuity of care. to high quality care for all children. She was the president of
announces the appointment of She will be the voice on behalf of pediatricians and connect the Palm Beach Pediatric Society for ten years, organizing
Shannon Fox-Levine, M.D., pediatric offices to the community resources available to continuing medical education for peers in the community. One
as medical director. Dr. Fox- their patients and families,” said Layman. of her proudest achievements is advocating for child safety by
Levine joins the Palm Beach About Shannon Fox-Levine, M.D. being one of six named pediatricians in the “Docs vs. Glocks”
County-based nonprofit at a Dr. Fox-Levine is a pediatrician and the sole owner of Palm lawsuit against the State of Florida which found in the doctors’
critical time as our nation’s Beach Pediatrics, where she has worked for 20 years. She favor in Federal Appellate Court. With COVID-19, she was an
youth face a mental health completed medical school at University of Maryland at Baltimore active participant in the state chapter and local school board
crisis and there is a shortage of and trained in pediatrics at Bellevue/NYU Hospital. Her goal as discussions about returning children to school safely. She has
professionals who can support a pediatrician is to give the best comprehensive medical care to been married for 22 years with two sons, 21 and 18. In her spare
their overall well-being. children while also being an advocate for them in the community. time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and exercising.
The current snapshot of Integrating mental health care for children into primary care About Center For Child Counseling
Palm Beach County’s youth Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine is her special interest. She has worked with Center for Child The Center for Child Counseling has been building the
mental health is alarming. Counseling for ten years promoting trauma-informed care and foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for
In 2021, 41.5 percent of Palm Beach County high school developed educational tools for other primary care doctors to children and families in Palm Beach County since 1999.
students reported that they felt hopeless, and 20.7 percent evaluate, manage, and treat common mental health disorders in Its services focus on preventing and healing the effects of
of total high school students seriously contemplated suicide children and adolescents. She is on a school-based committee to adverse experiences and toxic stress on children, promoting
(PBC Youth Behavioral Health Survey). Today, one in four address the increase in Baker Acts during the pandemic. She also resiliency and healthy family, school, and community
children suffer a mental health or behavioral concern. has an interest in the business of medicine and enjoys managing relationships. www.centerforchildcounseling.org, Twitter: @
In 2022, the entire state of Florida had a total of 493 the practice. She has been an advocate for pediatricians to ChildCounselPBC, Facebook: @CenterforChildCounseling,
child and adolescent psychiatrists with 43 practicing in Palm improve payment for services in Florida as the past chair of the Instagram: @childcounselpbc.
Beach County – one psychiatrist per 6,553 children under Florida Pediatric Council, most notably negotiating a grant Interviews Available With
the age of 18 in the county (American Academy of Child from a major health plan to subsidize consultation hours for • Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine, Newly appointed medical director
and Adolescent Psychiatry). patient centered medical home recognition for independently of Center for Child Counseling; president and pediatrician at
According to Renée Layman, CEO of the center, “We are owned pediatric practices. She currently serves on the AAP Palm Beach Pediatrics
thrilled to enhance our collaboration with Fox-Levine and Payer Advocacy and Advisory Committee to improve payment • Renée Layman, president and chief executive officer of
further tackle system issues, advocate for children, and create to pediatricians to decrease the financial barrier to access Center for Child Counseling
action to improve the mental health and access to quality care
for the children in our community.”
of the partnership the center has been building with Fox-Levine Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
The creation of the medical director position is a continuation

and her pediatric office, Palm Beach Pediatrics, for more than a
decade. In addition to Center for Child Counseling integrating
its services within Palm Beach Pediatrics to deliver an array of Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
prevention, early intervention, and mental health services within
the primary care setting, Fox-Levine will now expand early State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
intervention and prevention methods within the community
and advocate for change within the systems. Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
“One of my long-term goals has been to bridge the gap in
the continuity of care of children with mental health issues
between therapists and the county’s pediatricians. With this Joanne Green, D.D.S.
new role, I am excited to turn this dream into a reality and
improve the mental health care for all children in Palm Beach 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
County,” stated Fox-Levine. Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics,
“Pediatric clinicians are on the front lines of caring for (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
children and adolescents and, thus, have the greatest potential
for early identification of and response to childhood trauma. Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Data indicate that, although pediatric providers intuitively Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
understand the negative effects of trauma, they report a Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
lack of knowledge, time, and resources as major barriers to Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
providing trauma-informed care. Yet, experts believe that
the complete assessment of child and adolescent behavioral,
developmental, emotional, and physical health requires
consideration of trauma as part of the differential diagnosis
to improve diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of care.”
As medical director, Fox-Levine’s scope of services will
include: developing a collaborative model of care between
primary pediatrics and mental health in the community;
developing and presenting trainings and workshops on
psychopharmacology, pediatric medical conditions, adverse
childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma, and other
topics to enhance professional knowledge; mental health
diagnoses consultation and follow-up care coordination;
and providing oversight of medical students to develop a
formal internship experience within the center. Life moves fast—
Layman and Fox-Levine agree there is no lack of

resources available to children and families in Palm Beach prepare for the unexpected
County; the lack of communication about the resources
is where the barrier exists. with Accident Insurance.
“When conversations happen in the community, pediatricians
are often overlooked when they are the ones who have
been seeing kids and their families since the day they were
born. There’s a gap between what pediatricians do and
what community organizations and schools do. So, we are
We’re here to help.
thrilled to have Fox-Levine to help further our work within

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