Rose F. Kennedy Children's Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center at Montefiore
Overview
The Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC) is dedicated to helping infants, children, and adults — with or at risk for developmental disabilities — to reach their potential and live fulfilling lives.
Our holistic approach combines early identification and interdisciplinary care, backed by clinical research into evidence-based treatments. Together, we focus on the needs of each person by providing family-centered and culturally-sensitive care. Our impact on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is maximized by training the next generation of clinicians and through advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.
Under the umbrella of the Rose F. Kennedy Center, RFK CERC provides approximately 40,000 annual visits serving 7,500 children. In addition to RFK CERC, RFK houses the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (RFK UCEDD), Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (RFK LEND), and the RFK Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Council (RFK IDDRC). These four discrete units carry out RFK’s mission of service, training, research, and advocacy/capacity building.
Mission
The Rose F. Kennedy Center Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (RFK CERC) is dedicated to helping infants, children, and adults — with or at risk for developmental disabilities — to reach their potential and live fulfilling lives.
History
On May 1, 1966, ground was broken for the Rose F. Kennedy Center, a nine-story building in the Jacobi Hospital complex. Those attending the ceremony included Mrs. Kennedy and her son Robert F. Kennedy.
The Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center of the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (RFK CERC) is the clinical arm of the Rose F. Kennedy Center. Since 1970, RFK CERC has dedicated it’s mission to helping infants, children, and adults.
RFK CERC is home to one of 36 LEND (Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) programs, a nationally funded interdisciplinary training program serving persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Each year, more than 1,000 professionals receive long-term, immediate-term, or short-term training through the RFK CERC LEND program.
Our clinicians and trainees conduct research on autism interventions (e.g., Early Start Denver, Coping Cats) with our families, who are among the nation’s most diverse. As well, RFK CERC partners with national research networks, including Autism Intervention Research on Physical Health.
The primary mission of the Rose F. Kennedy UCEDD is to improve the quality of life of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. UCEDD faculty/ staff provide direct problem-solving assistance to programs, agencies, or other entities in improving their outcomes, services, management, and/or policies. This includes self-advocacy organizations, family support groups, and other organizations.