Matilda H. Theiss Child Development Center

The Matilda H. Theiss Child Development Center is the cornerstone of early childhood mental health services at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital.

For over 30 years, Matilda Theiss has supported person-centered, family-focused, positive approaches — as well as individualized models of care — across a continuum of services.

Eligibility

Eligibility varies by program.

The mental health programs at Matilda Theiss address the therapeutic issues of children with special needs related to:

• Emotional and behavioral disturbances
• Prenatal drug and alcohol exposure
• A parent’s mental illness diagnosis

Center-based and mobile therapeutic programs are available.

Service Mission

The early childhood mental health therapeutic programs at Matilda Theiss provide a foundation for the enduring emotional and behavioral health of young children with psychiatric disorders, or those who are at high risk of developing psychiatric or developmental difficulties.

We achieve this by providing a comprehensive, coordinated program of services within an age-appropriate, naturalistic environment that:

1. Provides supportive and nurturing care.
2. Promotes healthy attachments and emotional bonds with parents and caregivers in order to enhance a child’s capacity for trust, empathy, and compassion.