East Atlanta nonprofit teams up with counselors to bring free therapy to at-risk youth
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Some Georgia kids are about to receive a gift that can make a huge difference in their lives and the community they’ll grow up in; Therapy.
Research shows there is a correlation between poverty and trauma.
Many of the children at East Atlanta Kids Club are considered low-income. The organization serves five to 17-year-olds and focuses on providing opportunities through science, technology, engineering, art, and math. They have summer camps, after-school programming, and even food support — especially around the holidays.
“Our kids are not a monolith. They come with a myriad of experiences, right? But what does seem to tie most of the kids at East Atlanta Kids Club together is they are placed at risk,” said Ryan Downey, East Atlanta Kids Club Executive Director.
In June, children with the East Atlanta Kids Club will have access to free therapy thanks to a new partnership Root and Blossom Counseling.
“By the time they start matriculating to middle school or thinking about what happens past childhood, they see doors closing or they never even knew they were there to begin with and they really start limiting what they think is possible for themselves,” said Downey.
The partnership means the kids at the club who have been placed at risk will be able to speak to a mental health professional. Therapists will also do trauma therapy with staff and work with parents and schools to better support the youth.
“Children who have a lot of protective factors such as food security, social support, they are able to process experiences differently than kids who are lacking some of those protective factors,” said Rachel Salmons Founder and Director of Root and Blossom Counseling/LPC. “We have a therapist on staff who will be here one day a week to provide individual counseling services at the kids club.”
The project will start during summer camp in June and will run year-round. It was funded by The LuluMa Foundation.
“It is being able to impact that one child’s life but this also ripples out into the community,” said Salmons.
“These young people, with all their hopes and dreams and aspirations, are the future of our community and our city,” said Downey.
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