FARMINGTON – Clem and Rolande Begin of Carrabassett Valley hosted a successful fundraising event at their home to help launch the Evergreen Child Development Center, a new medical program to help children with special needs and their families.

Sixty attended the event, catered by Franklin Memorial Hospital dietary staff, director Sharon Searles and chef Bruce Smith. Several parents of children with autism spoke, as did Franklin Community Health Network President Richard Batt and child psychiatrist, Dr. Lourdes Soto-Moreno. The event raised more than $45,000.

“In just a few short months,” said Batt, “Evergreen Behavioral Services and FCHN will create the new Evergreen Child Development Center. Dr. Iris Silverstein, board-certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics and also board-certified in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, has accepted the offer to lead this program.

“Dr. Silverstein recently worked and studied for several years at the internationally acclaimed Boston Children’s Hospital. She is presently the co-director of the Autistic and Children’s Developmental Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Silverstein will bring exceptional medical knowledge and skills in developmental pediatrics to this area.”

Silverstein practiced general pediatrics for more than 15 years at Pine Tree Pediatrics and Franklin Memorial Hospital until about six years ago, when she left to pursue medical practice and advanced studies in the area of developmental pediatrics.

The Evergreen Child Development Center will open in August at the Mt. Blue Health Center, next to Franklin Memorial Hospital. The center will be a part of EBS and affiliated with Franklin Memorial Hospital and the Child Development Program of the Barbara Bush Center at Maine Medical Center.

The new program will diagnose and treat children with autism and autism spectrum problems, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD and other developmental and behavioral problems.

Patients and families involved in the program will also benefit from other child behavioral services available at EBS, led by Soto-Moreno. The program will supplement other services already available to children with special needs by working with Child Development Services in Farmington and with local schools.

Additional services available at Franklin Memorial Hospital, such as physical, speech, and occupational therapy, will be available.

“There is a huge unmet need for medical diagnostic and treatment services for children with special needs in our communities,” said Soto-Moreno. “More than 800 children in Greater Franklin County have special needs. On average, one in 150 every children born develops autism.”

In order to support and sustain the program, Franklin Community Health Network has launched a community-led fundraising campaign. Aaron, Jennifer, Norm and Janice St. Pierre and their families have also helped with the campaign by organizing a basketball tournament, which raised $7,000 for the program.

“We appeal to others in the community to help with the start-up of this vitally needed program,” said Batt. People interested in helping to support the center may contact Maureen Goudreau at 779-2471.