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Camber Children's Mental Health

Wheatland Celebrates Five Years of Helping Children Succeed

In May 2010, KVC Wheatland children’s psychiatric hospital opened in Hays, Kan. The next year, a young girl in the psychiatric residential treatment program asked, “Why don’t you have a way for us kids to give advice to the other kids?” After some collaboration, Hands of Success was launched – a large wall where children and adolescents who are successfully discharging from the hospital leave their handprints and an encouraging message.

hands 1Other youth, staff and all who tour KVC Wheatland read the messages. The Hands of Success tradition has become something the kids look forward to doing because it physically shows that they successfully completed the treatment program.

This May, as KVC Wheatland Hospital prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary, staff members are taking pictures of the full wall overflowing with bright handprints. Since there is no more room, the pictures will be framed and hung in the lobby and visitation rooms. The wall will start afresh for the next generation of children who want to celebrate their success and encourage others.

If you’d like to help encourage children receiving psychiatric treatment, consider donating or volunteering.