Where youth achieve functional wellness
in a dysfunctional world.
Every Youth Deserves a Chance to be Happy, Healthy and Loved
We help children and adolescents prevent mental illness and heal through a combination of evidenced-based therapeutic interventions, psycho-education, therapeutic play, and artistic expression. We offer a variety of artistic expression classes including creative dance, theater, drama, music, arts, songwriting, and crafts. In addition, we provide therapeutic services including individual, group, canine-assisted, family, filial, and various forms of play therapy.
The ElRod Center offers services to all in need, specializing in ages 2 – 24. Our unique combination of both preventative and treatment programs gives children, adolescents, and families an opportunity to have an outlet, increase emotional intelligence, and develop skills that will help them achieve functional wellness through all of life’s hills and valleys. We strive to help youth and families develop resilience, confidence, strength, emotion regulation skills, and healthy relationships.
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We are here to heal the children of our community.
Mission
ElRod Center was incorporated July 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. We are dedicated to helping youth achieve functional wellness through creative, innovative, and research-based methods. Our purpose is to promote recovery, resiliency, wellness, independence and safety for individuals receiving mental health services and support. Standards for services and support are person directed, youth guided, family driven, culturally competent, trauma & wellness informed, and promote functional and rehabilitative outcomes for individuals that are developmentally appropriate.
ElRod Center is committed to providing a work and treatment environment that promotes healing and allows people to flourish. All individuals are considered for entry without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, religion, familial status, marital status, creed, national origin, or age. We are inclusive with all individuals and provide a safe place for children and families to seek services.
Our heart is to serve our community with integrity. We are committed to serving and pledge to continually grow and evaluate how we can best serve every child and family that comes into the Center. Please know this is your Center, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out directly to our Clinical Director, Marian Stiegeler, LPC and she will be happy to chat with you.
Vision
Co-founders Julie Nowacki and Marian Stiegeler, LPC, MS-MHC, QMHP, CMHIMP have combined their individual passions to form a single vision to help children and teens who are suffering from emotional and social issues. Julie has 15 plus years helping manage singer/songwriters and is very passionate about seeing others pursue their dreams. She also has experience teaching in specialized preschools working with children with challenging behavior, limited communication and lack of problem solving skills. Her father in-law Rod suffered from a mental illness and took his own life in October of 2016. This tragic event inspired Julie to use her life experience and professional experiences to address the mental health crisis that was affecting youth nationwide Her vision was to create a safe place where kids of all ages could come and express themselves while increasing their social and emotional intelligence.
Marian is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist, and has had a life long passion for helping children. She also had a dream of opening up a play therapy center based on her own trauma that she experienced when she was younger. She has received impeccable training and valuable experience with children and families that has equipped her. She saw first-hand the need for this type of therapeutic environment for the youth in our community. So, when Julie and Marian met July of 2017 in Eugene, Oregon–they found that although their individual visions were incomplete, together their visions made one complete and beautiful dream! And with that, ElRod Center in memory of Rodney Lee Nowacki was born!
Resources
Affiliate Organizations
Events
Podcasts
- The Eugene Life – ElRod Center and Coffee
- ElRod Center Adult Prom
- Sounding The Light – Julie Nowacki/ElRod Center
Coming Soon!
Videos
Marian Stiegeler | Healthy Mind, Happy Heart
One of our co-founders speaks about the impact of art therapy on the suicide epidemic.
Julie Nowacki | Helping Children Pursue Their Dreams
Co-Founder Julie Nowacki on the origins of the ElRod Center, and the power of music therapy for youth.
Rick Dancer | ElRod Center The Buck Stops Here
ElRod Center to Prevent Bullying: Get Real with Rick Dancer
Ceaser
Ceaser is our Therapy Dog Ambassador. He is utilized and specifically trained to support youth and families in a therapeutic or group setting. Therapy dogs have a huge positive benefit in therapy sessions, and he has worked with many kiddos in individual and family sessions, giving therapy to each in the way they need it.
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