A new after-school program here in Clark County has the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of our students, while also potentially creating a blueprint that could be use across the state and beyond.

Funded by a What’s Your Ambition?! grant from The Greater Clark Foundation, this new after-school therapeutic rehabilitative pilot program will focus on children and teens who have been diagnosed with significant or persistent mental issues impacting their ability to learn and do well in school.

This is the first and only program of its kind to be launched by Mountain Comprehensive Care Center in Kentucky.

The pilot project will be a goal-oriented program that focuses on daily living skills, self-care, money, time management and decision making. It will start with 15 to 25 participants.

MCCC and Clark County Public Schools have collaborated to provide transportation for students to the after-school program, which participants may attend Monday through Friday. In addition, Medicaid funding will be used to provide mental health services.

Making resources available for those battling mental health issues remains a significant challenge here in Kentucky and across our nation. Sadly, many of these individuals feel they have nowhere to turn or simply fall through the cracks.

This program is a step in the right direction, helping identify the root problems at young ages and developing strategies and practices to overcome them.

We applaud The Greater Clark Foundation and the Clark County Public Schools for looking for partnering to find a solution to a problem that many would rather just sweep under the rug.