The Cohen Children’s Medical Center has partnered with the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying to fight bullying.
The partnership is to assist children affected by bullies in their schools and communities.
Joseph Salamone, founder and executive director of LICAB and a victim of adolescent bullying himself, said, “LICAB is honored to partner with one of Long Island’s premier organizations and institutions in the Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Northwell Health group.”
Through the partnership, patients of Cohen Children’s or any Northwell Health facility will have access to subsidized therapy and counseling related to bullying, in addition to personal development programs such as martial arts classes to build self-esteem.
“The staff’s mission also focuses on the safety and well-being of all children, which makes the LICAB program a strong addition. In addition, the partnership will work together to increase awareness of bullying through outreach events in schools and communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties,” according to a news release from Northwell Health.
Dr. Mark Welles, a pediatrician at Cohen Children’s who will serve on the board of directors at LICAB, said, “I am excited about this partnership and joining LICAB in combating bullying across Long Island … As a physician dedicated to this cause for many years, it’s great to see our community efforts aligning themselves with the needs of our communities.”
Cohen Children’s was ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2017-18 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” survey.
Cohen Children’s was founded in 1983. It is now a 202-bed hospital and has grown to be the largest health care facility provider for pediatric services in New York state.
The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that one in four students have been bullied. One in three of these victims are afraid to go to school.
