LFCS Offers Free Summer Mental Health Services for Youth and Teens in Jackson County
Summer can be a hard time for many at-risk children who lose mental health support. This summer, a ministry is stepping in to serve kids in the Kansas City area.
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS), one of Missouri’s oldest social service agencies, is offering free mental health services this summer for children and young adults ages 3-19 in Jackson County.
“As school doors close for the summer, many children and teenagers lose access to crucial mental health supports such as counselors, routines, and trusted adults,” said Lindsay Jeffries, Director of Behavioral Health for LFCS. “For families already facing emotional or financial strain, the summer months can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and behavioral struggles for children and teens.”
LFCS’s summer counseling program provides individual therapy, family counseling, and early intervention, delivered by trained mental health professionals and licensed therapists. These services are available at no cost to families, regardless of insurance status.
“Our services meet a growing need,” Jeffries said. “When school is out, the safety net many kids rely on for emotional support disappears. We are here to fill that gap with free counseling and psychiatry services that make mental health care accessible all summer.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the lack of daily structure in summer can raise stress and anxiety for youth. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that many children depend on school-based mental health supports, which often vanish during summer break. A national survey by The Kids Mental Health Foundation recently found that half of parents worry as much about their kids’ mental health outside of school as they do during the year.
The MU School of Medicine notes that over one-third of Missouri high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for extended periods, yet many do not receive timely treatment.
LFCS urges families to take advantage of these free services to support youth mental health this summer. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 866-326-LFCS, visit their website, or email help@lfcs.org.
–Metro Voice
