Nashville, TN (Top40 Charts/ Garth Brooks Official Website) The Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation announced that they are granting $50,000 to Communities In Schools of Nevada to support their school based counseling initiative. The funds will support desperately needed services to at-risk children in our state who are dealing with issues such as lack of self-esteem, violence, reduced parental involvement, lack of hope and many other issues that stem from poverty. Research demonstrates that behavioral and mental health-based interventions are essential for at-risk youth, and failure to support their mental health can have serious negative consequences including increased risk for school failure, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, incarceration, unemployment and poor physical health. Communities In Schools of Nevada has piloted a mental health initiative with the UNLV Department of Counselor Education provide individual counseling sessions, group workshops/counseling and staff/community trainings for free. The results have been impressive as students have built trusting one on one relationships with their counselors, worked on their behavior and emotions and learned coping skills. Last year the program reached over 517 students in Las Vegas. The grant could not come at a better time. The program was funded by Clark County however due to recent budget cuts, funding was lost. The Teammates for Kids donation will allow Communities In Schools of Nevada to continue the project for a year and place 17 UNLV counseling practicum students at 11 schools in the Clark County School District. As the program grows additional students will be placed at more school locations increasing services to students across the Las Vegas Valley. "We cannot thank Mr. Brooks enough for this amazing gift," said State Director, Louise Helton. "His commitment to the children in our community is truly remarkable and will allow us to bring vulnerable children up out of their low places and empower them to succeed in school and in life," she added.
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