Roger Ogden and Ken Barnes Gift to Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center Provides Patients with Outlet for Creative Expression

Daily expressive therapies promote healing at the comprehensive, 51-bed inpatient center for child and adolescent mental and behavioral health.

NEW ORLEANS – The Behavioral Health Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans provides specialized care for patients from its dedicated Art and Expressive Therapies Center thanks to a $300,000 investment from Roger Ogden, founder of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and partner Ken Barnes.

Ogden remarked, “Addressing the epidemic of behavioral issues in children and adolescents is the most important need in healthcare today and Children’s Hospital is ahead of the curve with their investment in the Behavioral Health Center."

The Ogden Arts Therapy Suite consists of three dedicated rooms, staffed by specially trained art and music therapists. 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.

In December 2021, Roger Ogden and Ken Barnes completed their commitment in support of the art therapy program. The donation was made in honor and in celebration of lifelong friends Daynese and Randy Haynie, and the impactful work of their daughter, Dayna Haynie, and her significant contributions to Children’s Hospital where she works as an Art Therapist in the Behavioral Health Center.

“The generous gift from Roger Ogden and Ken Barnes helps improve the wellbeing of children in our community by providing unique therapeutic experiences to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs,” said John R. Nickens IV, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “The generous support of donors like Roger and Ken helps amplify the important work of our behavioral health art and music therapists.”

“Ken and I are proud to help bring art and music into the lives of the patients who are being cared for at Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center,” said Ogden. “My hope is that the creative therapies will promote happiness, healing, and will help children build the lifelong coping skills they need.”

Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center is a 51-bed, 70,000 square foot center that is one of the largest and most comprehensive programs in the nation. The center serves children and adolescents with a wide range of mental and health disorders, including inpatient crisis management and stabilization for children ages 7-17. Children’s Hospital also offers comprehensive outpatient services through multidisciplinary and individualized approaches.

Click here to learn more about the Behavioral Health Center at Children's Hospital. 

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital is a 222-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 located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, and Lafayette. Children’s offers primary care services at 13 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for kids program. Children’s 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, West Jefferson Medical Center, and East Jefferson General Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org