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Camber Children's Mental Health

From Client to Advocate: How One Person’s Mental Health Journey Inspired Their Path to Social Work

At Camber Mental Health, our success is defined by the lasting impact we create for youth, adults, families and communities through compassionate mental health care. Hear the story of a former Camber patient that truly shows no matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, there is always a chance to be a change in the life of another. See how our Camber team unites to help patients write their next chapter.

Receiving Mental Health Treatment at Camber

“Jade” was a patient in Camber’s acute and residential treatment program. She had experienced trauma and neglect before her treatment began. So, the Camber team anticipated that Jade might be wary of trusting her care team at first. “Typically when children have a trauma history, especially with parents or guardians, they become very standoffish and overprotective of themselves and their emotions,” says Philip Caldwell, Camber’s Director of Staff Engagement. 

Caldwell was one of the Camber team members who built a relationship with Jade during her time with Camber and beyond. “But Jade was able to open up and have really strong, positive relationships with the staff. Her openness allowed her to flourish in the program and set her on a path for success later in life.”

Transitioning to Life After Camber

Because of her willingness to accept the support offered to her, Jade thrived in the residential treatment program. As she was preparing to transition out of the program, Jade even bonded with a staff member who welcomed the teen into her home — and later adopted her. “This one particular staff was willing to take a chance,” recalls Caldwell.

Phillip Caldwell, Director of Staff EngagementThis staff member went over and above the responsibilities, almost turning into a big sister or a parent to this young lady. That had such an impact on Jade.” – Phillip Caldwell, Director of Staff Engagement

In addition to her new home and caregiver, Jade kept in touch with many other Camber employees who she had built connections with during her stay. Any time she was struggling or needed advice, she would reach out to one of these adult mentors for guidance. Jade was always willing to ask for help, and our staff has enjoyed providing support and friendship.

From Client to Provider: Where Jade is Now

Jade’s experience at Camber helped her navigate difficulties and inspired her to pursue a career in social work! She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Master’s in Social Work in 2023. Jade now works directly with children who have Autism. This career choice came as no surprise to Jade’s connections at Camber, who couldn’t be more proud of her! “I think we all knew just from our interactions with her the direction she was going to go. But to see her do it and follow through with her endeavors is a blessing,” says Caldwell. “She has gone on to return the support that she received and give it to somebody else. That’s amazing to see.”

Jade’s meaningful connections with the Camber staff and clinical team inspired her to give back. She experienced the impact of adults who genuinely care for and support youth. Now, Jade has chosen to follow in their footsteps.

The Power of Connection in Mental Health Treatment

Jade’s story is inspirational from the lens of her resilience — but it’s inspirational for our team too! In acute and residential treatment, we see children and youth go through some very difficult times in their lives. When we consider the impact we can potentially have at Camber, stories like Jade’s illustrate our staff’s willingness to care and build relationships and trust with those we serve.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for youth and adults in our care. For Jade, it was natural to build close connections and continue those relationships beyond Camber’s walls. But Caldwell points out that for other patients, it takes more time and a different approach. “When we go in and try to restore those relationships and repair the trust and attachment, it just makes such a huge impact not just in the child’s life, but in a lot of people’s lives,” says Caldwell.

Caldwell shares that it’s natural for staff to be hesitant at times when a referral comes through for a child with a very difficult history of behavioral struggles. But each time the clinical staff looks past the history and sees the person who is hurting. 

What Impact Means to Camber

Camber CMC- Mental HealthIn 2023, Camber served children in 96 of Kansas’ 105 counties, and our impact only grew in 2024 with the opening of the Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health Wellness Campus in Olathe, KS. This state-of-the-art mental wellness campus, opened on December 2, 2024, is a $53 million, 72-bed facility designed to address the growing need for inpatient mental health treatment for youth and adults, with the capacity to care for over 3,400 clients annually.

However, our impact at Camber goes beyond these statistics. What we do is about more than a single treatment experience: our incredible, caring staff are transforming lives! While we don’t always get to see the results of our services in the moment. Sometimes positive changes don’t happen until years later, and sometimes we don’t hear from patients after they’ve left our care. But we always have that hope that change is possible. And that hope is bolstered by experiences like watching Jade grow from a patient to a fellow peer in social work! “That’s why I’ve been in the field for so long,” says Caldwell, who has been with KVC for over 20 years. “My impact is not only with the children we serve but also with the young staff that come into the field. I love what I do.”

Shining the Light at the End of the Tunnel

When we see someone like Jade return to the field not as a patient, but as a caring adult providing support to children with stories like hers, it’s like a beacon of hope to youth who can now see that change is possible. If you want to experience what it’s like to be the second chance a child needs, consider joining our team!

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