Peace Partnership Expands Mental Health Support for Kansas City Youth
The little boy can hear the roar of the crowds when Arrowhead Stadium is cheering for the beloved Kansas City Chiefs. He can also hear sounds of gunfire where he lives and knows to run and hide in his bathtub to protect himself from the shots when they start coming.
This little boy and hundreds like him are blessed to have Peace Partnership and the staff in their corner.
Peace Partnership is a faith-based nonprofit organization operating in Eastern Jackson County, providing high-quality, low-cost behavioral health counseling to children and families. Founded in 2013, Peace Partnership provides on-site behavioral health counseling in schools serving the Blue Springs and Independence school districts. Additionally, it offers affordable counseling services to the whole metro at its Lee’s Summit office.
After the COVID pandemic, behavioral health challenges dramatically increased, especially among elementary-aged children. A study published by the National Institute of Mental Health found that youth suicide rates, already rising before the pandemic, continued to increase during the COVID-19 period. The long-term behavioral health impacts of this time of isolation will need to be addressed, especially for these children.
Peace Partnership has a unique and effective counseling model. They receive referrals from the principals and school counselors of the schools where they provide services. Their counselors meet weekly with these students at their school, which offers relief from one barrier to receiving services: transportation. The other barrier, money, is also eliminated as visits to the schools are provided at no cost to the students, due to generous donations received from the community.
Support: Dr. Jon Thompson founded Peace Partnership and is seeking church Sunday School classes or small groups to provide school supplies for counselors to keep in their school offices. At times, children may not have the necessary supplies, which can be a source of embarrassment for them, so Peace Partnership’s counselors aim to assist.
Service: The children seen by Peace Partnership are in desperate need of encouragement. Peace Partnership is seeking groups to write encouraging notes to the children, which the counselors can give to them at the end of their visits.
Sponsorship: Peace Partnership hosts an annual Golf Tournament, and there’s still time for you and your group to have a team. The tournament will be held on September 25. Go to www.peacecounseling.org/events for registration information. This event has sold out in the past, so register early!
Future: The need is great in the school districts where Peace Partnership offers its services, and the school districts have asked them to serve more schools. It takes approximately $60,000 to operate in one school for the school year. As funds are raised, more children can be helped.
Metro Voice Challenge: For just $60, a child’s life can be impacted. $60 would provide for thirty minutes of counseling in the child’s school. At times, the Peace Partnership counselor and their visits are the only stable influence in the child’s life. To provide that first visit, click here to donate: https://www.peacecounseling.org/support-us
–Anne Foley Rauth
Anne Foley Rauth helps nonprofits raise awareness so they can help more people. Share your nonprofit story ideas with her at anne@annerauth.com
