Centerstone Receives $175,000 Grant from Kendrick Foundation to Support School-Based Therapy in Indiana

Centerstone recently received a $175,000 philanthropic grant from The Kendrick Foundation in Morgan County, Ind., to support school-based therapy for students of Eminence Schools. The grant will also support life skills training.

There were 10 grantees this year. The Foundation also awarded Centerstone funds for resource materials, staff/teacher training supplies, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) training for Morgan County Centerstone staff and flexible funding to help cover the cost of care for Morgan County students and families who cannot afford mental health treatment.

Centerstone staff have been a part of Eminence Schools since 2016, helping school faculty and staff refer students in need to appropriate mental health treatment.

Placing staff in the schools allow us to build closer partnerships with educators and helps teachers and staff gain a greater understanding of the role mental health plays in education. It also helps to provide quicker access to care during mental and emotional crises and removes the most common barriers to pediatric mental health treatment – time and transportation.

Last year, 47% of Eminence students in school-based therapy showed improved attendance and 38% had reduced or no disciplinary actions.

Through this partnership, Centerstone staff are currently exploring collaboration with Ruth Lilly Health Education at Marian University to bring Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) to Eminence High School students.

The Kendrick Foundation has been supporting initiatives that improve the physical and mental health of Morgan County residents since 2001. Mental health is one of the Kendrick Foundation’s three primary areas of focus. It is our hope that through new and innovative approaches and community partnerships such as these, Centerstone can continue to help meet those needs in the coming years.