Gift from Philanthropist Roger Ogden Supports the Healing Power of the Arts in Behavioral Health at Children's Hospital New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS – The new Behavioral Health Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans offers patients a dedicated Art Therapy suite thanks to a $100,000 gift from Roger Ogden, founder of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, in support of Children’s Hospital’s capital campaign, Extraordinary Together: The Campaign for Louisiana’s Children.

With a dedicated room and art therapist, each child and adolescent benefits from one to two expressive therapy groups per day, including music and art, which is at the core of the inpatient behavioral health program at Children’s Hospital. Ogden's generous donation has allowed for an increase in one-on-one therapy sessions, and new technology and equipment to enhance the art therapy experience.

“It is my pleasure to bring more art and music into the lives of Children’s Hospital’s behavioral health patients,” said Ogden. “My hope is that an enhanced artistic experience will promote happiness and healing.”

The Ogden Art Therapy Suite offers patients a quiet and creative space for increased awareness, acceptance, and celebration of the self. Patient artwork often reflects the natural landscape that is visible outside the expansive windows and can symbolize the exploration of shifting emotions and processing of life events.

“We are proud to be able to provide therapeutic, safe and positive behavioral healthcare experiences,” said Rene Guilbeau, Director of Child Life and Creative Therapies at Children’s Hospital. “These programs engage and empower expressive and creative opportunities where children and adolescents can use art and music to learn beneficial lifelong coping skills.”

Children and adolescents in the program use high-quality materials in a comfortable environment and receive support from a certified art therapist.

“Roger Ogden’s generous contribution to our Behavioral Health Art Therapy program will help many children throughout Louisiana foster healing through art,” says John R. Nickens, President and Chief Executive Office at Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “We are grateful for Roger’s commitment to the Campaign for Louisiana’s Children, and for his shared vision to shape a better future for children.”

The new Behavioral Health Center at Children’s Hospital is among the largest and most comprehensive pediatric behavioral health programs in the nation. The $25 million project, located on the hospital’s main campus, opened earlier this year as part of Children’s $300 million campus expansion. The Behavioral Health Center is exclusively dedicated to serving children and adolescents with a wide range of mental and behavioral health disorders.

With the goal to raise $40 million by 2025, the funds raised through The Campaign for Louisiana’s Children will enable Children’s Hospital to bring innovation to pediatric healthcare for the state of Louisiana. The vital funds raised through the capital campaign effort will help further the mission of Children’s Hospital as the leading pediatric healthcare institution in the state, providing expert care for all children regardless of their ability to pay. Learn more about Extraordinary Together: The Campaign for Louisiana’s Children at www.chnola.org/extraordinary-together.

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About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 257-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 400 physicians trained in more than 40 pediatric sub-specialties, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana and in Southern Mississippi, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. Children’s Hospital offers primary care services at 15 convenient locations throughout Southeast Louisiana and remotely via 24/7 Virtual Care for Kids. Children’s Hospital is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans and West Jefferson Medical Center. Learn more at chnola.org.