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Description
The aim of the project is the creation of a centre for the detection and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) for children and adolescents that will serve as a ‘one-stop clinic’. This will lead to timely and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of possible neuro-developmental disorders in children and adolescents of Cyprus. The Centre will offer a specialised inter-professional scientific team and it will increase the capacity of the Mental Health Services Directorate to offer high-quality health services in this area. Through the project’s implementation, the staff involved will receive training in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, thus increasing the number of specialities with expertise on NDD, providing even higher quality services.
Main activities shall include:
- establishment of a neurodevelopmental disorders centre for children and adolescents;
- training of staff in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders;
- purchase of equipment (i.e. desks, office chairs, examination beds, computers, printers, software, photocopying machine, audiovisual system, etc.).
Summary of project results
The project aimed to provide multi-level care to children up to 7 years old with neurodevelopmental disorders but also to support and properly guide their families. For this purpose, the aim was to create a Centre where the entire Interprofessional Team (psychologist, occupational therapist, specialized speech therapist, pediatrician, child psychiatrist) would be housed and assessments, diagnosis and treatments would be offered, with the main concern of providing to the children a personalized treatment and support plan.
Through the project, the "Neurodevelopmental Disorders" Centre was established, which is a model of good practice regarding early and valid assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The center is located on the 3rd floor of a building in Lykavitos area of Nicosia. The center has: two occupational therapy rooms designed and equipped specifically for sensory integration, a speech therapy room, a psychologist room with a one way mirror in situ, a child psychiatrist’s office, an office for the secretary, offices for mental health nurses and the occupational therapists and a small kitchen for the staff. The Centre houses all the necessary specialties, such as clinical psychologist, occupational therapists, child psychiatrists and speech therapist. In addition, the Centre offers psychoeducation, counselling and support to the children''s families and the possibility of frequent meetings to discuss and re-evaluate each case. Furthermore, through the project’s implementation, the staff involved have received training in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, thus increasing the number of professionals with expertise on NDD, providing even higher quality services.
The Centre offers quality care services and develops programs that add and contribute to the quality of life and the health of children diagnosed with NDD and their families. In addition, the final diagnosis by all specialists is offered at an early stage, while the center functions as a One – Stop Clinic, eliminating any delays. Also, through the project and the development of the Centre, the gap that existed regarding the interprofessional connection of specialties involved in the treatment of children with NDD, has been eliminated, offering high quality health care. Furthermore, through this project the Mental Health Services Directorate will have the opportunity to implement a Pancyprian Epidemiological study for NDD cases among children and adolescents in Cyprus and the collection of epidemiological data for research purposes. A total of 234 children received the services of the Centre and 4,398 visits were made. At the same time, the creation of the Centre has contributed, through social media and the internet in general, to raise public awareness as regards to Neurodevelopmental Disorders, especially the autistic spectrum.