Dawn Kershner, a physical therapy assistant at Sutter County’s new Medical Therapy Unit, works with patient Aleena during a therapy session at the newly opened facility in Yuba City on March 26. The unit marks the first time Sutter County families can access these services locally.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - For the first time, families in Sutter County no longer have to travel outside the county to access specialized pediatric therapy services. Local officials and healthcare providers gathered March 26 to celebrate the opening of a new Medical Therapy Unit through California Children’s Services (CCS), marking a significant shift in care for children with chronic and complex medical needs.

“This is the first time Sutter County has had its own medical therapy unit within county borders,” said Sarah Ludwick, a nursing supervisor with Sutter County Public Health. “Before, families had to travel to Wheatland, which made it difficult to access services.”

Previously, Sutter County shared a therapy unit with Yuba County at Virginia School in Wheatland, relying on shared staffing resources.

Staff members with Sutter County Public Health and California Children’s Services gather inside the new Medical Therapy Unit at Feather River Academy in Yuba City on March 26. The facility expands access to pediatric therapy services that were previously only available outside the county.

“We were sharing a unit with Yuba County and relying on their physical therapist, but that position had been vacant for about 10 years,” Ludwick said. “So our children weren’t receiving physical or occupational therapy directly through CCS.”

Instead, families were often referred to outside providers, creating additional barriers to care.

“Those aren’t always pediatric-specific and often have long waitlists,” she said. “Children could wait months for services or not receive therapy as frequently as prescribed.”

Hosted at Feather River Academy in Yuba City, the new unit was created by renovating former classroom spaces into specialized treatment areas designed to support mobility, development and daily living skills. This also includes the Medical Therapy Program within CCS, which operates out of units like the one opened in Yuba City, providing services prescribed by a physician.

“This is medical therapy. It’s not educationally based,” said Bob Morgan of the Sutter County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). “The idea is to provide services on a school campus so families can access therapy more easily, but the services themselves are medical.”

In addition to therapy, the program provides specialized equipment to support children’s independence and mobility. This enables families to try things out before making a big purchase or experiment with what works best for their child’s specific needs.

A view inside the newly renovated Medical Therapy Unit at Feather River Academy in Yuba City shows specialized equipment used for pediatric physical therapy.

“Now that the program is embedded here, we’re able to get children in quicker, complete evaluations sooner and provide more consistent care,” Ludwick said. “Right now we’re seeing about nine children, but that number is steadily increasing. Our total CCS caseload is around 600, and about 55 of those are part of the Medical Therapy Program.”

For staff working directly with patients, the new space is already making a noticeable difference.

“I’m so excited about this space,” said Dawn Kershner, a physical therapy assistant at the unit. “When families come in, the children just light up. What child doesn’t love a big space? They come in, they play, they make a mess and they’re having a great time.”

Kershner said the environment not only benefits patients but also improves day-to-day operations for staff.

“It’s a fun space, especially for pediatric care,” she said. “Everything is easy. The layout, the parking, the setup. It makes it a great place to work and a great place for families to come.”