What is Pathmakers?
The purpose of the Pathmakers program is to provide underserved and at-risk youth the opportunity to channel new paths for their lives through mental health counseling at no cost to them or their family. We partner with local agencies to identify youth with great need and provide them and their support system with the tools needed for long-term change.
Pathmakers youth will be matched with one of our partner therapists based on their needs and the expertise and availability of our therapists. The participant will receive up to 44 individual sessions over one year and may be eligible for group sessions depending on their situation. In addition, Pathmakers will work with the parents or guardians of the participant by providing a parenting seminar and the opportunity for additional counseling for the parents/ guardians. All services in the Pathmakers program are free of charge.
Pathmakers Program
Pathmakers is a referral-based program, which means we only accept participants who have been referred to us by their school, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or one of our partner organizations. This is to ensure that we are able to work with others who play an important role in the life of the participant outside of the therapy office and outside of their home, increasing the likelihood of long-term impact.
Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot accept all youth referred to us into the Pathmakers program due to limited funding. We are working hard to secure funds to expand our program and reach more youth and their families.
Please note that youth not accepted into Pathmakers MAY STILL BE ELIGIBLE to receive our counseling services. Please see our “Services” tab for more information.
Eligibility
- The participant must be referred to us by a school, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or one of our partner organizations. If you are a parent, please contact us for a referral form to give to your school or organization.
- The individual, and or family, must present a significant barrier to receiving counseling services from another institution (examples could be finances, insurance, transportation/ location, or the inability to find a counselor for their need, amongst others).
- The participant and parents/guardians must agree to the requirements of the program. These include up to 44 individual counseling sessions over 1 year, the parent or guardian must attend a parenting seminar and/or meet with the therapist, and the participant and parents/guardians must complete the required progress evaluations.
- The participant must show self-determination, motivation, and willingness to make a commitment to change.
- The participants must be between ages 5 -25.
“We must be guardians of a space that allows students to breathe and be curious and explore the world and be who they are without suffocation. They deserve one place where they can rumble with vulnerability and their hearts can exhale. And what I know from the research is that we should never underestimate the benefit to a child of having a place to belong- even one- where they can take off their armor. It can and often does change the trajectory of their life.”
Brene Brown, PhD, LMSW in her book “Dare to Lead”
Why Pathmakers?
Our Pathmakers program seeks to provide opportunities for long-term change in the life of our participants. We take a holistic approach, meaning that we work with multiple spheres of influence in the participant’s life to ensure that they are receiving the support they need inside and out of the therapy office. We believe that by equipping young people with the tools they need to heal, build resilience, and channel new paths for their lives, we can positively impact individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools, the future workforce, and entire communities.
If you know a young person who could benefit from this program, please contact us at [email protected] to receive a referral form or give us a call at 706-910-0538.
This program is not possible without the generous contributions from individuals, companies, and organizations. If you would like to join our mission to break down barriers so that all youth and families can have access to the mental health care that they need, please consider donating below or visiting our “Join the Mission” page.
Support Our Program
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