Far Eastern Memorial Hospital establishes the first child and adolescent neurodiversity shared care center in northern Taiwan

        In response to the developmental and mental health needs of children and adolescents, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital has partnered with the New Taipei City Government Health Bureau to establish the first "Child and Adolescent Neurodiversity Co Care Center" in the northern region of Taiwan. The unveiling ceremony was held on October 22nd. This center integrates cross disciplinary resources such as medical, psychological, and social work. Through needs assessment, case management, and resource referral, care is extended from the clinic to families, schools, and communities, assisting children in receiving continuous support during their growth process and providing families with more specific care and parenting assistance.

        Dr. Chiu, Dean of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital Kuanming, stated that the growth of children involves different aspects such as cognition, emotions, interpersonal interaction, and life adaptation. For children with neurodiverse traits, medical diagnosis is only the starting point for understanding their needs, and family upbringing, campus environment, and social support are equally important.

        The Child and Adolescent Neurodiversity Co Care Center accepts referrals from health, social, school, and relevant units within the hospital. It mainly serves children aged 6 to 24 with neurodevelopmental related problems, suspected or diagnosed with neurodiversity traits, and needs for life adaptation support. It aims to establish closer cooperation between medical, family, and school departments. Far Eastern Memorial Hospital will continue to promote family health education, professional training, and campus cooperation to assist children in receiving appropriate support at different stages of growth, integrating professional care into daily life, and accompanying children in developing their potential.

        According to Section Chief Zhen Ruixing of the Collaborative Care Center, neurodiversity encompasses different neurodevelopmental traits such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reading disorders, developmental coordination disorders, and Tourette's syndrome. Children may face challenges in emotional regulation, social interaction, learning, and daily life. If the outside world only focuses on behavioral performance, it is easy to overlook the difficulties behind it. For example, if a child seems inattentive, it may be difficult to maintain attention; Not willing to participate in groups may also be due to the need for more time to understand social situations. The shared care center will promote the concept of "life running instructors" to assist children in facing life challenges by establishing trust relationships, cultivating life skills, and providing continuous companionship.

        Dr. Jiang Huiling, Chief of the Department of Child Psychiatry, pointed out that some behaviors of children with low neural diversity are easily misunderstood, which can lead to conflicts between children, parents, and teachers. If we can understand their characteristics and difficulties, identify the needs behind their behaviors, we can provide more appropriate guidance and improve children's adaptability to life.

        The "Child and Adolescent Neurodiversity Co Care Center" integrates professionals from the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry, pediatrics, home medicine, neurology, rehabilitation, clinical psychologists, social workers, and specialized nursing. It can provide assessments, resource referrals, and tracking based on individual needs, assist families in clarifying their needs, and connect appropriate services. In addition to professional assessments and resource connections, the center also plans dedicated consultation lines, telephone care, caregiver health education, and support groups to provide long-term care information and support for families.

        Vice Dean Lin Ziyu stated that when children face difficulties in life, parents often need to readjust their parenting styles and bear multiple pressures between work, family care, and resource seeking. Therefore, in addition to focusing on the needs of children, the shared care center also incorporates families into the overall care plan, assisting parents in clarifying their children's conditions and establishing appropriate parenting and support strategies. Far Eastern Memorial Hospital will continue to deepen the connection between healthcare and community, promote a friendly environment that respects differences and understands needs, accompany every child to grow up at their own pace, and provide understanding and support for diverse traits.

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