February 9, 2022: Welcome, Dr. Lauren Teverbaugh!
At Covenant House, food, shelter, and clothing are just the start of what we offer youth facing homelessness. We know that providing only these basic needs isn’t enough for our young people to feel safe, loved, and able to take on the world once they walk out our doors. Over 80% of our residents have experienced profound trauma resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder. It is our duty to address this underlying trauma in addition to providing the basic necessities. Our Health & Wellness services attempt to do just that.
We define wellness as a “multi-dimensional and holistic, encompassing lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment.” Wellness services go hand-in-hand with our physical and behavioral health services. Over the years, we have been blessed with incredible, dedicated staff who have laid the groundwork for all-encompassing mental healthcare provided to our residents, and we are honored to welcome Dr. Lauren Teverbaugh, MD, FAAP, to the Covenant House family.
Meet Dr. Teverbaugh
Dr. Lauren A. Teverbaugh is the CEO of Teverbaugh Consulting, LLC and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine. She is a Triple Board trained physician who has completed her training in Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Child Psychiatry and is board certified in each specialty. Dr. Teverbaugh’s background includes research and work in social and community activism, including but not limited to health care disparities in medically underserved communities, global health, trauma-affected youth, and public health. Taken from her Clinical Scholars profile, Dr. Teverbaugh’s “clinical work is rooted in the delivery of health care to children in community and school based health centers. Her career interests include community health, medically complex children and children with chronic medical illnesses who also have psychosocial dysfunction. She utilizes an interdisciplinary treatment model that is culturally sensitive and uniquely tailored address the health needs of communities of color” (printed with permission of Dr. Teverbaugh). She is currently working on a clinical scholars project titled, “Training Community Leadership of Naturally Occurring Social Networks to Improve Access of Children Suffering from Trauma to Mental Health Services.” Dr. Teverbaugh will be spending time with our residents for several hours each week, providing much-needed mental healthcare.
Dr. Teverbaugh’s Reflections
Hear from Dr. Teverbaugh herself as she reflects on her new work with Covenant House:
What compelled you to partner with Covenant House? Why is this work important to you?
I have admired the work and community at Covenant House since I was a medical resident seeing patients in the Drop In Clinic. The residents I had the opportunity to meet as well as the staff were highlights of my time there. When I was offered the opportunity to come back in a more formal way, I jumped at it. I believe excellent mental health care should be available to everyone, no matter where they come from or their circumstance.
Offering health care right within the community is one of the best ways to meet people where they are, reducing barriers to accessing care and work within a structure that is already working to serve the community. Partnering with Covenant House is directly in line with this vision and passion.
If there was one thing you wish the community knew about mental health, especially in adolescents facing homelessness, what would it be?
I wish the community knew what a tough road many of our youth have had and how, because of the numerous adversities our youth have experienced, many of our adolescents are suffering from trauma which has long and enduring mental health consequences. Often these traumas are historical, intergenerational, and institutional. Healing from trauma is wholly possible. A large part of the journey to healing from trauma is first having a safe place that is removed from the trauma. Covenant House is a haven, for this reason.
Welcome, Dr. Teverbaugh – we are so honored to have you with us!
This blog post was written by Haley Khoury, Covenant House New Orleans Development and Communication Associate.
