Children’s clinic to open in Waupaca

By Robert Cloud

A Fox Valley clinic that provides mental health services for children and teens plans to open offices in Waupaca this fall.

The move was made possible in part due to a $50,000 Forward Together Grant.

Tim and Joy Neuville presented their grant to Catalpa Health during the Waupaca Area Community Foundation gala Saturday, June 17, at the Waupaca Ale House.

Catalpa was chosen from among 18 charitable organizations that applied for the grant.

“Joy and I wanted to help an organization that would provide a significant impact in our community,” Neuville said. “We felt that Catalpa met that criteria.”

Catalpa Health offers mental health assessments, therapy, psychological testing and psychiatry services for children of all ages and their families.

A collaboration of Ascension, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and ThedaCare, Catalpa opened its first office in November 2012.

It currently has four treatment centers in Appleton and Oshkosh.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 20 percent of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition.

For children ages 8–15, the estimate is 13 percent.

Currently, more than 350 Waupaca-area families are taking their children to either Catalpa’s Appleton or Oshkosh locations.

Trina Doxtator, Catalpa’s director of development, said these families are now making a total of 2,000 visits to the Fox Valley annually.

“Being located in our community and available on a daily basis will provide quicker access to everyone’s needs,” Neuville said, noting the families seeking care from Catalpa will see their drive time significantly reduced.

“This should not only save time but the excessive costs of the drive and time missed from work for both the client and the support people that go along,” Neuville said.

“We also hope that by making this donation, it helps create more discussion about mental illness and in some way lowers the stigma attached with those words,” Neuville said. “No one should ever be embarrassed or afraid to seek professional help or to share their condition with their friends.”

Doxtator said Catalpa is still looking at options for its Waupaca location.

Big Brothers Big Sisters and NAMI Fox Valley are partners in the project and will share space in the clinic.

“Initially, we plan to hire four therapists,” Doxtator said. “Our goal is a full-service clinic.”