Mental Healthcare in the Classroom
Shady Grove Medical Center’s education programs meet critical needs for young people.
When most people think of mental healthcare, they picture a therapist’s office or a hospital setting. At Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, mental healthcare transcends these traditional boundaries. For young children to adolescents, the hospital’s Behavioral Health Services team offers two special education schools: The Ridge School of Montgomery County and The Lourie Center School. Both programs emphasize Adventist HealthCare’s holistic commitment to well-being.
The Ridge School: Nurturing Progress in a Therapeutic Learning Community
The Ridge School of Montgomery County provides special education services for students in grades six through 12 facing emotional disabilities, learning disabilities and behavioral health challenges. The school weaves education, clinical services and behavioral support into a comprehensive fabric.
Embracing respect, scholarship, integrity and safety, The Ridge School’s interdisciplinary team empowers students to overcome obstacles that have hindered their academic success and interpersonal relationships. Focused on fostering emotional growth and compensating for learning differences, the school provides a physically and emotionally secure environment that respects diversity.
The Ridge School offers psychoeducational services, including individual and group counseling, special education tailored to each student’s Individual Education Program, behavior management support, social skills training and much more.
The Lourie Center School: Fostering Academic Excellence and Mental Wellness
In Rockville, The Lourie Center School caters to children age 4 to 12 with emotional and behavioral challenges, nurturing academic growth alongside therapeutic services. The school uses an attachment approach, which focuses on building safe, trusting relationships as a foundation for educational success.
With an 11-month academic year, The Lourie Center School offers classroom-based academic instruction aligned with Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, plus mental health care, including individual and play therapy, speech and language therapy, and more.
Empowering Well-being Through Education
The Ridge School and The Lourie Center School exemplify the intersection of healthcare and education, nurturing mental health in the classroom through tailored programs and fostering growth in a supportive community.
“Many people may not know that we offer these educational programs within our behavioral health services,” said Kandy McFarland, RN, vice president of Behavioral Health Services at Shady Grove Medical Center. “The programs are a huge benefit to parents who may need to seek alternative schooling for their child with behavioral issues.”
Watch educators and caregivers from The Ridge School explain its importance at AHCYou.com/W24Ridge. Learn more about Shady Grove Medical Center’s mental health offerings for young people at AHCYou.com/W24Care.
