Free summer mental health services offered to Jackson County youth
JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - One of Missouri’s oldest social service agencies, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS), announced on June 11 it will offer free mental health services this summer for those ages 3 to 19 in Jackson County.
“As school doors close for the summer, many children and teenagers lose access to crucial mental health s 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.”
Services will be provided by mental health professionals, like licensed therapists, who offer plans to each patient’s needs. Services include individual and family therapy and early intervention.
Each of these is available, regardless of insurance status, to families at no cost.
“Our services meet a growing need,” said Jeffries. “When school is out, the safety net many kids rely on for emotional 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 for children during summer can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and dangerous behavior. The CDC shared that many students rely on school-based mental health . Needs are often unmet when school is not in session.
LFCS’s services include:
- behavioral health
- adoption services
- parenting education
- pregnancy
To schedule an appointment, call 866-326-LFCS or email [email protected]. More information can be found on the LFCS website.
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