The Alicia Koplowitz Foundation celebrates 30 years of firm commitment to the mental health of children and adolescents with an event that brought together prestigious authorities and collaborators.
The anniversary celebration took place at the ‘Alicia Koplowitz’ Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Community of Madrid. Alicia Koplowitz Romero de Juseu was accompanied by her closest collaborators and authorities of the Community of Madrid.
Alicia Koplowitz presented a short documentary film in which she narrates, in first person, the evolution of her most personal project which, in its three decades of life, already constitutes a legacy in the visibility and treatment of ‘the ailments of the soul’, as she herself refers to mental illnesses.
Since its creation, the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation has worked in favour of the emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents in Spain, supporting professionals to specialise in child and adolescent psychiatry and clinical psychology in the best centres in the world; offering annual research grants, bringing mental health care to schools for students who need it, and training the educational community in this area.
Access to the short documentary film
Madrid, 22nd May
The Alicia Koplowitz Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary with a ceremony at the ‘Alicia Koplowitz’ Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Community of Madrid in which the President of the Foundation, Ms. Alicia Koplowitz Romero de Juseu, was accompanied by her family and authorities such as the Ombudsman, D. Ángel Gabilondo, the Regional Minister of Economy and Finance, Ms. Rocío Albert, the Regional Minister of Health of the Community of Madrid, Ms. Fátima Matute, the Regional Minister of Education, Science and Universities, Mr. Emilio Viciana, the Regional Minister of Family, Youth and Social Affairs, Ms. Ana Dávila and the Manager of Hospitals of the Community of Madrid, Ms. Mercedes Navío.
On behalf of the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation, the Foundation’s trustees Alberto Cortina Koplowitz, Pedro Cortina Koplowitz, Pelayo Cortina Koplowitz and Leoncio Areal; the director of programmes, Ángela Ulloa Solís; the coordinator of scientific programmes, María Guisasola Zulueta and Isidro Villoria, former director of the social area, attended the event.
Alicia Koplowitz wanted to reaffirm at this event her commitment to the promotion of mental health and the emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents in Spain, a task that has become her most important personal project and which constitutes a legacy of great social value that has already had a positive impact on a large number of young people, families, psychiatrists, researchers and educational centres.
Throughout his career, this work has been supported by the Community of Madrid through the Departments of Education, Science and Universities, Health and Family and Social Affairs, as well as by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service of the Gregorio Marañon Hospital.
The commitment of a lifetime narrated in a documentary film
The 30th anniversary of the Alicia Koplowitz Foundation was crowned with the presentation of a short documentary film in which Koplowitz herself expresses her commitment, narrates the evolution of the Foundation and projects a future that aims to expand its activities to accompany and improve the lives of more people.
The documentary includes the testimonies of renowned collaborators such as Dr. Valentín Fuster (Director General of the National Research Centre), patron of the Foundation; Dr. Celso Arango (Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid), as well as people linked to the Foundation who have benefited from its programmes.
In the words of Alicia Koplowitz
‘In 1994 I created the Foundation that I preside over, which has been devoted to caring for children and adolescents in serious situations of social exclusion and uprooting’.
‘I have always been concerned about making mental health more accessible to children, adolescents and their families in a more direct way’.
‘I have always been very clear that I wanted to give back to Spanish society part of what it has given me throughout my life’.
Three decades, three main areas of work
Over the course of three decades, the institution has expanded its scope of work, which currently encompasses three main areas:
Social action area, which serves vulnerable groups, with a relevant focus on the care of children and adolescents under the guardianship of the Community of Madrid, which has accompanied 580 minors and their families in their education, health, development and psychological and social well-being. This area has extended its activity to those affected by multiple sclerosis with the construction and donation of the ‘Alicia Koplowitz’ Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Community of Madrid.
Scientific area, created in 2005 with the aim of contributing to the advancement of research (in Mental Health and Neurosciences) and improving the training of professionals in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, as well as in Neuropaediatrics in Spain. It awards Advanced Training Grants, Grants for Short Specialisation and Research Stays and Grants for Research Projects. A programme that has already awarded more than 350 grants and that annually holds its Scientific Conferences with national and international speakers of recognised prestige.
Clinical and training area in child and adolescent mental health, created in 2022 with the dual purpose of making the mental health needs of children and adolescents more accessible and offering training to professionals who work with children and adolescents. It develops a Mental Health Liaison and Coordination Programme for schools (Ordinary Education and Special Education) supported by public funds, which already serves 119 schools; as well as a Training Programme in Child and Adolescent Mental Health for public, subsidised and private schools.