3 organizations that help children with mental health

For the Love of Children

For Love of Children, Inc. (FLOC) is a 100% volunteer organization, with a mission to serve more than 8,000 children in the greater Dayton area who are neglected, abused, in foster care, or in need of community resources.

FLOC has 16 programs to help children connect through cooking, music and arts and crafts. Beth Mann, president of FLOC’s board, says the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation has really thrown kids for a loop and getting back on schedule is important.

“COVID has taken a huge toll on the entire universe,” Mann said. “The children were given the experience of not meeting their peers. No physical contact and no peers. It created a feeling of not communicating and not being able to even seek face-to-face communication.”

The many programs offered by FLOC help reduce the effects of trauma when it occurs. For example, the Comfort a Child program helps children transition to foster care by providing them with a new duffel bag to pack their belongings. Mann said children often only have a trash bag to use, so this program makes their transition less personal.

Their main program is the Christmas event for Children. FLOC works with volunteers and partners with other organizations to provide gifts to every child served by Montgomery County Services. Through donations and volunteer support, they now serve over 2,400 children in the Greater Dayton area each Christmas.

“We love the kids we serve so much,” Mann said. And it amazes me how the community helps our children.”

Many programs provide children with skills they will need in the future including academics and finance. Money Madness focuses on teaching kids about credit and financial success. The Tools for School program provides educational resources including tools and tutorials. FLOC used to have a championship program that Mann said they plan to bring back in the future.

To donate or volunteer, visit the FLOC website at flocdaytonohio.org.

National Community and Justice Conference of Greater Dayton

The National Conference on Community and Justice of Greater Dayton (NCCJ) has a mission to educate and empower the community to eliminate bias, prejudice and all forms of discrimination. Adriane Miller, executive director of NCCJ, says her organization focuses on prevention to help children’s mental health.

He said: “Today’s youth know more about who they are. “This way of information that we have in our hands is a power and a challenge. They see themselves differently, so we have young people who many who identify outside the traditional gender binary. They have different ideas of who they are.”

Being different or different from other people can cause anxiety and worry in young people. Miller said his organization has several school-based and community-based programs. AnyTown’s Young Leaders Center (weekly) and Retreat (weekly) help young people engage in conversations about diversity, equality and inclusion.

“AnyTown is about building relationships,” Miller said. “It sounds absurd, but it’s true that they come in as strangers and leave as family. We do experiential work on racism, sexism and classicism. We do suicide prevention, self-care and we talk about disability. But the kids come together and see how much more we have in common than what separates us.”

Another program is called Students Promoting Inclusion, Diversity and Equity through Education or SPIDEE, and it is a youth leadership program that prepares high school students to be leaders in their schools and role models for younger students. Another program called Police and Youth Together where local law enforcement meets with children during a week-long camp.

“Connecting with adults is a way to help kids with their mental health,” Miller said. “Knowing who to talk to and making the conversation normal, then you provide safe activities that kids can be a part of.”

To donate or learn more about NCCJ, visit their website at nccjgreaterdayton.org.

Acumen Therapeutics

Acumen Therapeutics was founded with the vision of creating a clear path to emotional, mental and physical health through counseling services based on responsibility, patience, honesty and care. The group was founded in 2023 and opened their first facility on June 5, 2024.

Andrea Allen, founder and CEO of Acumen Therapeutics, says the trends they’ve seen in children’s mental health are anxiety, depression and poor social skills. Allen said this is due to many factors including social media, technology, school pressure, family changes, prejudice and other social issues.

“This generation has more information and is more exposed than any generation that has ever lived,” Allen said. “They are the first generation to have access to social media for a long time or their entire lives. Gender and sexual identity are also more at the forefront than previous generations. The world we live in today is moving so fast, and there are so many things coming at you at once that it can be difficult to work and learn to navigate, especially for children.”

The group offers an after-school treatment program for students who struggle with behavioral, cognitive, interpersonal, communication and coping skills. Providers will work with students in small groups and individually to improve social skills, build effective communication skills, and equip youth with tools to better manage their emotions.

“We work with young people to develop positive social behaviour, build effective communication skills, strengthen their self-esteem, educate them about mental health issues, and equip them with tools to to cope with their feelings about health,” said Allen.

Another program is a summer youth health program, which is for youth struggling with self-esteem, confidence, moral health, mental processing and coping skills. Summer camp leaders will lead academic and physical activities to promote academic and physical health.

The 366 Change Program is an eight-week awareness program designed to address and combat negative thinking patterns that cause anti-social behavior. This program uses behavior modification techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients challenge negative attitudes. This program helps children with long periods of isolation.

“Our mission is simple but profound: To provide quality services and care in a comprehensive, accessible, and effective manner to promote personal growth and health,” Allen said. “We aim to create a safe and inclusive space where youth, young adults and adults can explore their unique path to health, without judgment or stigma.”

For more information about these programs or other services, visit myacumentherapy.com.