Columbia, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Boys & Girls Club of Columbia has partnered with Burrell Behavioral Health Services to promote mental health in children.
The partnership will allow behavioral health professionals to provide individual and group services to those in need at all five Boys & Girls Club locations in Columbia.
The partnership seeks to promote safe and positive environments for children and young people, as well as to promote both their social and emotional skill development.
“So not only did they miss out on those peer-to-peer relationships and those social supports, but they just didn’t see those social cues in the virtual environment (distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic),” said Abigail Anderson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia.
This service is designed differently than traditional therapy sessions because it allows health professionals to come to the child’s home as long as parental consent is obtained.
“All the providers that work in that program go into the community, they go to people’s homes, we go to where people are because that’s where they have their mental illness,” Jessica Obuchusky, senior director of community services. He said.
The service will start in the next 60 days. It is possible to get help in case of suicide and crisis. The number is 988.