The eighth annual Hats & Horses gala was a vibrant celebration of the extraordinary community that supports Kennedy Krieger Institute. This gathering of dedicated members, sponsors, and guests was more than just an event; it was a collective effort to elevate care to a new level by launching the Evaluations for Development, Growth and Education (EDGE) Clinic.

Transforming the Vision into Reality

The support from the Hats & Horses community directly enabled the creation of this interdisciplinary clinic within the Center for Development and Learning (CDL), bringing both innovation and opportunity to patients and their families:

  • A New Model of Care: The clinic was designed to offer families comprehensive evaluations by both a psychologist and a neurodevelopmental medicine specialist during a single visit.
  • Setting Children Up for Success: By assembling a dedicated team from the very first appointment, the clinic makes it easier for families to navigate their child's development and learning needs.
  • Collaborative Excellence: The clinic represents a vital collaboration between the CDL and the Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment (CNaP).

Remarkable Growth and Impact

Since the first patient was evaluated in the EDGE clinic model in November 2023, the program has experienced significant growth:

  • Expanded Capacity: The clinic has grown to include six clinical teams, now operating 11 separate clinics per month.
  • Increasing Outreach: The team now conducts approximately 22 new patient evaluations every month.
  • Investing in the Future: In September 2024, a post-doctoral training program track was added, which has already expanded to two trainees per year; the track's first graduate has already joined the EDGE clinic as a faculty member.
  • National Recognition: The EDGE model’s success is being shared nationally, with selected presentations presented at the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) 2025 Annual Meeting.

Success for Our Families

The community-backed EDGE model has delivered measurable improvements in how families experience care:

  • Reduced Wait Times: Families now have much faster access to critical evaluations, with wait times reduced to less than four months.
  • Consistent Attendance: The clinic has achieved a one percent no-show rate, significantly lower than the 10–13 percent average seen in other parent centers and clinics.
  • Same-Day Answers: Families receive a diagnosis and treatment plan in a single visit, including same-day feedback, medication recommendations, and therapy referrals.
  • Comprehensive Support: The clinic serves children and teens (ages 4–17) with ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and behavioral concerns.

The Future of the EDGE Clinic

Building on the momentum of the 2024 celebration, the EDGE Clinic is looking toward continued expansion:

  • Physical Expansion: Plans are in place to increase physical clinic space and staff to serve even more families.
  • Integrated Follow-Up: The clinic is evolving its model to provide more integrated follow-up care for patients and their families.
  • Quality Improvement: An Institute Quality Improvement Project is currently underway to guide the clinic's future growth and ensure the highest standards of care.
Contact Information: To learn more, please contact the EDGE Clinic at Edge_Clinic@KennedyKrieger.org or visit our locations in Baltimore and Columbia, MD.