Hamilton Health Care System recently
held a groundbreaking ceremony for
a new children’s institute. Dedicated
to the memory of Anna Sue Shaw, the
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute will
serve children from birth to age 11 who
experience the challenges of autism
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hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and
developmental delays.
One out of 64 children in Georgia has
been diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder and one out of 8 has been
diagnosed with ADHD.* In the U.S.,
17 percent of children have a type
of developmental delay.* While early
intervention is critical to the longterm
well-being of these children
and their families, less than half of
them are diagnosed before beginning
kindergarten. This delay in diagnosis
can result in a delay in treatment
and results.
“Mom had a love for children and an
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growing up in our complicated world,”
said Susan Young, daughter of Anna
Sue and Bob Shaw and a Trustee of the
Anna Sue and Bob Shaw Foundation.
“Our dream is that the Institute will
aid and support families by assisting
children to achieve their maximum
potential and to become happy,
healthy, productive adults.”
The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute will
provide specialized services to children
and families in our region and will
prevent many families from having to
drive long distances for treatment.
The Institute will be located in a serene
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natural beauty of North Georgia. Its
design was inspired by the style of
a treehouse. Families will be able to
receive diagnoses, treatment, and
support all under one roof.
“The children of Northwest Georgia
have been without adequate access to
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that Hamilton will provide through the
Institute,” stated pediatrician Jeffeory
White, MD. “Many families have
to wait months just to get in to see
specialists, and even then, must drive
long distances for assessment and
ongoing treatment.”
Focusing on early intervention, the
Institute will provide cognitive,
psychological, and developmental
evaluations to ensure the assessment
of each child and to identify
appropriate therapy services to
maximize the child’s development.
Services will include:
• Medical care and evaluations
by developmental behavioral
physicians
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy
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• Music therapy
• Aquatic therapy
• Sensory integration
• Neurodevelopmental treatment
• Psychological testing, counseling,
and evaluations
• Individual and family counseling
• Nursing services
• Assistance with obtaining
insurance pre-authorization
for services
• Support services from a treatment
navigator for assistance with
obtaining resources such as
summer camps, community
support groups, legal
assistance, etc.
“Children with developmental delays
and differing abilities, as well as their
families, need healthcare programs
for the same reasons we all do, to
foster good health, to promote active
engagement, and to be a part of a
community,” said Terri Woodruff,
APRN, Anna Shaw Children’s Institute
Director. “The Anna Shaw Children’s
Institute will work to connect families
with care and resources to maximize
each child’s development.”
The Institute will offer the services of
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of developmental pediatrics, child and
adolescent psychiatry and psychology,
neurology, gastroenterology, genetics,
and other pediatric sub-specialties.
The Institute is scheduled to open
in 2019.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute Groundbreaking Ceremony
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