Embark Behavioral Health’s JumpStart Program Marks One Year of Care for Children Ages 9-11 in Atlanta
Atlanta, Ga. – August 19, 2026 – Embark Behavioral Health’s JumpStart program marked its one-year anniversary last month, beginning its second year providing intensive outpatient mental health care tailored to younger children with practical support for families.
Embark Behavioral Health in Buckhead, GA, is an outpatient mental health clinic that provides Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) to teens and young adults in the Atlanta metro area, previously starting at age 12. As of last summer, Buckhead launched the JumpStart program, expanding their IOP programming to support children ages 9-11 with an age-appropriate, family-centered approach to behavioral health care.
While the Atlanta area has several intensive outpatient options for teens, options for children ages 9-11 are more limited. JumpStart was created to help fill that gap for families whose children may need more support than weekly outpatient therapy can provide. Embark also takes a whole-family approach to IOP care, recognizing that children in this age group still rely heavily on parents and caregivers.
Through personalized family therapy, clinicians work with parents and caregivers to understand what each family needs and build practical skills that can be used outside of treatment. The goal is not only to help children develop new ways of managing mental and behavioral health challenges, but also to help parents feel prepared to support those changes at home. Family involvement is paired with individual and group therapy sessions established in an individualized treatment plan for each client.
“Mental health challenges can be overwhelming for any family, and starting that journey at a younger age can bring unique challenges,” said Dr. Margie Gill, Area Executive Director of Embark Behavioral Health in Buckhead. “We want parents to feel prepared and like they have the tools they need to support their child and ultimately, to know they are not alone in facing these challenges.”
The program also uses evidence-based assessments to help clinicians better understand each child’s progress. Measures such as the Child Behavior Checklist, Sterling Wellbeing Assessment, and Family Assessment Device provide deeper insight into areas including behavior, well-being, anxiety and family functioning tailored to understand the younger age groups. The approach gives the clinical team additional ways to monitor progress in a younger population whose developmental needs and engagement can differ from those of adolescents and young adults.
Since opening, JumpStart has maintained continuous enrollment, with clients participating in the program throughout its first year. The sustained program participation further highlights the ongoing need for intensive behavioral health services for younger age groups in the Atlanta metro area. Over the next year, the team in Buckhead is looking ahead to expanding relationships with community organizations and local education systems, as well as providing additional clinician training focused on supporting younger children’s mental and behavioral health.
“We’re proud of what JumpStart has become in its first year and of the families who have trusted us to be part of their journey,” said Elnora Johnson-Penn, Clinical Director of Embark Behavioral Health in Buckhead. “It has been a joy to see families leave with hope and new tools they can continue using at home.”
Families, providers and referral partners interested in learning more about the JumpStart program at Embark Behavioral Health in Buckhead or to refer a child to care, can visit the website here – Embark Behavioral Health in Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.
About Embark Behavioral Health
Embark Behavioral Health is a leading network of outpatient clinics and residential treatment programs offering premier mental health treatment for preteens, teens, and young adults. Dedicated to its mission of reversing the trends of teen and young adult mental health challenges, Embark provides a continuum of care supported by evidence-based therapies and over 30 years of experience serving families.
Media Contact
Company Name: Embark Behavioral Health
Contact Person: Kathryn Carroll
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Phone: 866-290-5881
Country: United States
Website: https://www.embarkbh.com/
