Therapy Through Exercise
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AND OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL THERAPIES FOR KIDS AT C.A.S.T.L.E.
At Virtua Camden, the C.A.S.T.L.E. Program (Children
Achieving Success through Therapeutic Life Experiences)
offers a warm and welcoming environment that supports
kids who face emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric
challenges.
Through a wide range of therapies, dedicated
professionals meet the diverse needs of the kids in their
care. With three levels of care including a full-day partial
hospital program, half-day after school program, and
outpatient individual and family therapy, C.A.S.T.L.E.
serves hundreds of children each year.
While 90 percent of the patients are from Camden,
many families travel from across South Jersey seeking
therapy at C.A.S.T.L.E. since it is one of very few programs
to accept Medicaid, and delivers a high-level of care.
In June 2013, C.A.S.T.L.E. launched a new form of therapy
focused on health and exercise with support from Virtua
Foundation. Fitness Friday, established as a one-year pilot
program, introduces yoga and other forms of exercise as
non-traditional forms of therapy to kids of all ages.
“Not every kid wants to do talk therapy,” said Ron DeFeo,
director of the C.A.S.T.L.E. Program. “Doing something
fun when kids don’t know they are getting therapy is just
as important.”
Each Friday, Sarah O’Brien of Community Rocks! Corp
leads a variety of classes for the kids at C.A.S.T.L.E., who
range in age from 3 to 15 years old. Fitness Friday
combats childhood obesity by teaching kids exercises
they can do at home and aides in improving a child’s
physical and emotional health.
“Knowing they can learn and do these things at home
also shows the kids they have the possibility to do
anything,” said DeFeo. “It’s important to just get
themmoving.”
Virtua Foundation will fund a horticultural therapy
program for C.A.S.T.L.E. students, thanks to a remarkable
gift from a private donor. Kids are able to grow
vegetables in a garden courtyard at Virtua Camden,
learning how to nurture and tend to the plants that they
can also use to learn about healthy eating.
To make a gift in support of C.A.S.T.L.E., visit
foundation.virtua.org/MCH-Impact
C.A.S.T.L.E. Students
