Washington State summer program for children with mental health problems threatened by lack of funding

From The Associated Press:

RICHLAND, Wash. -- A summer program in Richland that specializes in children with behavioral, emotional and cognitive impairments is on shaky financial ground because of its reliance on donations.

The Tri-City Herald reports that the Children's Summer Day Treatment Program at the Lourdes Counseling Center costs about $55,000 to run each summer and is funded entirely by donations.

The program serves children and teens from the central Washington area, ages 7 to 18, who can't control their behavior and may not get the attention they need at traditional schools.

"These are good kids, but they don't really have the tools developed yet," said Dr. Benjamin Pe, the program's psychiatrist.

"Our approach is to find what their strengths are and make them aware of areas they really need to grow," Pe said. "We try to make a child feel supported. I think that is the big thing. Frequently they're angry because they feel they've been labeled as a bad kid. We have to change that whole mentality."

The children are taken on field trips as part of an effort to help them develop social skills. They also undergo therapy focused on changing their thinking and behaviors, and managing anger.

During the school year, school districts pay for children to attend the counseling center. But summer classes rely on donors.

Participants come from as far away as Sunnyside and Othello.

One of the children is 10-year-old Levi Warner of Pasco, who has Asperger's syndrome and bipolar disorder.

"It's really nice to have the day program that keeps him active and learning something, and using social skills while he's around other kids every day," said his mother, Kayla Warner. "He looks forward to it every year."