Laura Centurelli, Program Coordinator, with Christy Parker, RN in the nursing office of the Webster House.

All the children that come through the doors of Klingberg Family Centers benefit from a safe, therapeutic environment where they can heal from past trauma.  Some of these children, who struggle with health problems as well, need an even more targeted support system.

Many kids who fit this profile are living in hospitals throughout the state, but they would be better served in a residential, homelike setting.  About one year ago, the Medically Complex Unit opened here in response to a growing need throughout Connecticut for treatment of children whose emotional or behavioral health needs are compounded with “co-occurring medically complex needs.” This program, located in the Elizabeth Webster House, is the first of its kind in Connecticut. 

Laura Centurelli, LCSW is the Program Coordinator at the Webster House, which has 12 children aged 12 to 18.  She says it is similar to other residential units on campus, but with additional elements:  an around-the-clock nursing service and consultations with physicians at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and an on-site registered dietician.  The entire program, medical or otherwise, is individually tailored to each child. 

Though some children in the Webster House do have life-threatening conditions, the most common ailment is diabetes.  Staff are trained to provide close monitoring, helping manage blood sugar and recognizing the signs of hypo- and hyper-glycemia. 

The greatest challenge on the unit, according to Centurelli, is food.  She admits it can be difficult to balance dietary restrictions with the room kids need to be independent and make their own choices.  Kids are encouraged to research and prepare some of their own meals in the Webster House kitchen.  They also keep logs of their diet and activity.   Ultimately, Centurelli wants to see kids lead a fun, healthy life at the same time they are learning to deal with their illness. 

And they are making excellent progress.  There are rich rewards for everyone when kids take ownership, gain freedom and begin to feel at home in the Webster House.  It’s not uncommon to witness that when medical issues are resolved, behavioral issues somehow follow suit with out more intervention.  Once their health is stabilized, kids are discharged to a lower-level care setting, such as a group home, or they return to live in their original community.