Children continue to face mental health challenges across Kansas City, and KidsTLC is here to help.
The nonprofit is most-known for bringing life-saving treatment to thousands of families in need across Kansas and Missouri. Through their inpatient and outpatient programs, children are able to move forward from challenges and sometimes traumatic experiences to work with their families to help build safe, trusting relationships.
Whether it’s their children or families, KidsTLC provides everyone the tools and resources needed to navigate through tough moments.
“It’s incredibly important that we're investing in our children because they are worthy of a healthy future. We are acutely aware of the societal pressures on all of us,” explained Dr. Erin Dugan, President and CEO of KidsTLC. "So it’s all of our responsibilities to be building those foundations and advocating for their mental wellness.”
For KidsTLC that foundation starts at home, and their Lotus Clinics outpatient services help the entire family shape a positive, healthy dynamic.
Through this program, trained mental health practitioners help bring a multitude of services from traditional talk therapy (in-office or in-home), to an intensive outpatient program, and medication management.
Most importantly, they are creating a healing environment where children can build trusting relationships and start to make strides in dealing with obstacles in life or with their children’s mental care. KidsTLC recognizes that untreated mental health problems like depression or anxiety can have a permanent impact on the entire family.
"I don't know a family, regardless of their demographic, who doesn't have a neighbor, a family friend, a colleague, or a child of their own impacted by mental health concerns,” said Dr. Dugan.
While it's difficult to think about the realities some children face, anxiety, depression and behavioral issues continue to pose challenges among children living in Kansas City. KidsTLC provides many spaces to address these issues, but it takes a village.
Community support is the pulse of KidsTLC.
Community involvement is how the organization can further amplify their reach and continue to impact the lives of Kansas Citians and other communities for the better. From financial donations to volunteers giving their time; community support helps bolster programs and services that can make all the difference to families and their children.
“What our donors and our community do for us is at the heart of KidsTLC. It allows us to provide these vital mental and behavioral health services. Their crucial donations also help KidsTLC offer scholarships and support to families in need of our care,” said Dr. Dugan.
And while that need continues to grow, families across the state of Kansas remain on long wait lists to receive KidsTLC’s world renowned inpatient services. The organization says donations also go towards sustaining this intensive level of care. The community’s mental and behavioral health care needs are escalating, and collective support is needed to change the lives of families.
“Thousands of kids and families come through our residential and outpatient services every year,” said Dr. Dugan, “And there are so many more who need our help. This progress and transformative care is only made possible with the support from our generous community.”
TLC will be hosting their annual benefit which will be a dreamy evening to celebrate children and families in our community. Explore the J. Rieger & Co. distillery while enjoying custom cocktails, delicious food stations, creative photo opportunities and virtual and live auctions. Then, head to the renowned Benefit After Party for late night snacks, drinks and dancing to a live DJ.For more information visit kidstlc.org/benefit