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The Mt. Hope Family Center offers a unique combination of service, training and research. Sheree L.Toth Ph.D. is the executive director.

Upcoming Events

30th Anniversary Symposium
November 12 & 13
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY
Click to register and for more information

Research

Research at the Mt. Hope Family Center focuses on the maltreatment of children and on child and adult psychopathology, including their prevention and treatment. Current areas of research include an assessment of the efficacy of The Center's varied treatment programs and an assessment of sequelae of maltreatment for children. Additionally, research is being conducted on the developmental processes of children raised by depressive and manic-depressive parents.

Intervention

The intervention component focuses on the assessment and treatment of families experiencing severe familial dysfunction and of children at risk of foster care placement and/or emotional difficulties. A number of treatment programs are available to The Center's clients, who are usually referred by the Preventive Unit of the Monroe County Department of Human Services. All of the intervention programs are based on manualized treatment approaches with documented efficacy. The programs available include a child-parent psychotherapy intervention to strengthen familial relationships for children from birth to age five and their caregivers. Children under age six in these programs are assessed across multiple domains of functioning, and the attachment-theory informed intervention is tailored to meet the needs of the children and families. An after school program is provided for at-risk school-aged children that is designed to build the children's self-esteem and to improve their peer relationships utilizing the PATHS (Promotion Alternative Thinking Strategies) curriculum. A summer camp for school-aged children is offered annually. Child therapy, IPT (Interpersonal Psychotherapy) intervention for depressed mothers and their children, foster family treatment, and parenting classes utilizing The Incredible Years curriculum are also offered.

Training

Graduate students from the Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology participate in all of The Center's clinical service programs. Students may also undertake a variety of independent study projects.