Page 10 - Talk of Tequesta - December '23

Page 10, The Talk Of Tequesta

nonProfiT news

Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine Appointed As

Medical Director Of Center For Child Counseling

Center for Child Counseling announces the appointment understand the negative being an advocate for them in the community. Integrating
of Shannon Fox-Levine, M.D., as medical director. Dr. Fox- effects of trauma, they mental health care for children into primary care is her
Levine joins the Palm Beach County-based nonprofit at a report a lack of knowledge, special interest. She has worked with Center for Child
critical time as our nation’s youth face a mental health crisis time, and resources as major Counseling for ten years promoting trauma-informed care
and there is a shortage of professionals who can support barriers to providing trauma- and developed educational tools for other primary care
their overall well-being. informed care. Yet, experts doctors to evaluate, manage, and treat common mental
The current snapshot of Palm Beach County’s youth believe that the complete health disorders in children and adolescents. She is on a
mental health is alarming. In 2021, 41.5 percent of Palm assessment of child and school-based committee to address the increase in Baker
Beach County high school students reported that they felt adolescent behavioral, Acts during the pandemic. She also has an interest in the
hopeless, and 20.7 percent of total high school students developmental, emotional, business of medicine and enjoys managing the practice. She
seriously contemplated suicide (PBC Youth Behavioral and physical health requires has been an advocate for pediatricians to improve payment
Health Survey). Today, one in four children suffer a mental consideration of trauma for services in Florida as the past chair of the Florida
health or behavioral concern. as part of the differential Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine Pediatric Council, most notably negotiating a grant from a
In 2022, the entire state of Florida had a total of 493 diagnosis to improve major health plan to subsidize consultation hours for patient
child and adolescent psychiatrists with 43 practicing in diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of care.” centered medical home recognition for independently owned
Palm Beach County – one psychiatrist per 6,553 children As medical director, Fox-Levine’s scope of services will pediatric practices. She currently serves on the AAP Payer
under the age of 18 in the county (American Academy of include: developing a collaborative model of care between Advocacy and Advisory Committee to improve payment to
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). primary pediatrics and mental health in the community; pediatricians to decrease the financial barrier to access to
According to Renée Layman, CEO of the center, “We developing and presenting trainings and workshops on high quality care for all children. She was the president of
are thrilled to enhance our collaboration with Fox-Levine psychopharmacology, pediatric medical conditions, adverse the Palm Beach Pediatric Society for ten years, organizing
and further tackle system issues, advocate for children, and childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma, and other topics continuing medical education for peers in the community.
create action to improve the mental health and access to to enhance professional knowledge; mental health diagnoses One of her proudest achievements is advocating for child
quality care for the children in our community.” consultation and follow-up care coordination; and providing safety by being one of six named pediatricians in the “Docs
The creation of the medical director position is a oversight of medical students to develop a formal internship vs. Glocks” lawsuit against the State of Florida which
continuation of the partnership the center has been building experience within the center. found in the doctors’ favor in Federal Appellate Court.
with Fox-Levine and her pediatric office, Palm Beach Layman and Fox-Levine agree there is no lack of With COVID-19, she was an active participant in the state
Pediatrics, for more than a decade. In addition to Center resources available to children and families in Palm Beach chapter and local school board discussions about returning
for Child Counseling integrating its services within Palm County; the lack of communication about the resources is children to school safely. She has been married for 22 years
Beach Pediatrics to deliver an array of prevention, early where the barrier exists. with two sons, 21 and 18. In her spare time, she enjoys
intervention, and mental health services within the primary “When conversations happen in the community, cooking, traveling, and exercising.
care setting, Fox-Levine will now expand early intervention pediatricians are often overlooked when they are the ones About Center For Child Counseling
and prevention methods within the community and advocate who have been seeing kids and their families since the day The Center for Child Counseling has been building
for change within the systems. they were born. There’s a gap between what pediatricians the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living
“One of my long-term goals has been to bridge the gap do and what community organizations and schools do. So, for children and families in Palm Beach County since
in the continuity of care of children with mental health we are thrilled to have Fox-Levine to help further our work 1999. Its services focus on preventing and healing the
issues between therapists and the county’s pediatricians. within our community by advocating for the continuity effects of adverse experiences and toxic stress on children,
With this new role, I am excited to turn this dream into a of care. She will be the voice on behalf of pediatricians promoting resiliency and healthy family, school, and
reality and improve the mental health care for all children and connect pediatric offices to the community resources community relationships. www.centerforchildcounseling.
in Palm Beach County,” stated Fox-Levine. available to their patients and families,” said Layman. org, Twitter: @ChildCounselPBC, Facebook: @
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, About Shannon Fox-Levine, M.D. CenterforChildCounseling, Instagram: @childcounselpbc.
“Pediatric clinicians are on the front lines of caring for Dr. Fox-Levine is a pediatrician and the sole owner Interviews Available With
children and adolescents and, thus, have the greate st potential of Palm Beach Pediatrics, where she has worked for 20 • Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine, Newly appointed medical
for early identification of and response to childhood trauma. years. She completed medical school at University of director of Center for Child Counseling; president and
Data indicate that, although pediatric providers intuitively Maryland at Baltimore and trained in pediatrics at Bellevue/ pediatrician at Palm Beach Pediatrics
NYU Hospital. Her goal as a pediatrician is to give the • Renée Layman, president and chief executive officer
best comprehensive medical care to children while also of Center for Child Counseling

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