The Children Overcoming Obstacles and Limits (COOL) Zone was developed, with the support of the Penguins Foundation, by the Matilda Theiss Early Childhood Behavioral Health Program, part of UPMC Western Behavioral Health. Shaped like an “igloo” to provide a safe space for children, the COOL Zone is a behavioral health program for young children who exhibit symptoms of or who currently have a behavioral health diagnosis. This program increases accessibility to high-quality mental health services by partnering with existing schools and child-oriented settings within Allegheny County. Within these child-friendly settings, the Penguins COOL Zone serves children experiencing a range of behavioral and emotional disruptions such as aggression, anxiety, depression, withdrawal, family disruption, emotional difficulties, traumatic responses, and more.
EMBRACE Pittsburgh, funded by Citrone 33, is a proud supporter of the COOL Zone program. Thanks to their assistance, the Penguins Foundation is committed to build 10 total igloos in the region in the very near future with 7 constructed to date (Summer 2022).
https://www.pittsburghpenguinsfoundation.org/program/c-o-o-l-zone/