Wish List: Lourdes seeks help for summer children’s program

Lourdes Counseling Center in Richland provides treatment for young people with behavioral, cognitive and mild cognitive impairments during the school year, when 10 area school districts contract for the service.

But the children, who are treated for up to 20 hours a week during school, still need help when class is out. The Children’s Summer Day Program, which is in its eighth year, attempts to fill the void when the schools don’t pay for it.

It provides academic, recreational, vocational and social activities for young people between 8 and 18.

“This program really fits for the kids that don’t fit in a YMCA camp or day care setting,” said Connie Gillispie, chief development officer for the Lourdes Foundation. “We heavily rely on the community for funding.”

Children who cannot attend a summer day program are at risk of deteriorating when they are out of school, according to Lourdes. That makes it more likely they will end up in a psychiatric hospital or other residential treatment facility.

The Arc of Tri-Cities offers the only other summer program for students with developmental disabilities in the area, but it does not serve children with severe emotional and behavioral problems because of safety concerns, Lourdes said. Some children who suffer from abuse, neglect, depression or other mental disorders do not have the capacity to take part in recreational programs without assistance from trained counselors.

Some of the children Lourdes serves are expelled from other places.

The program requires a high staff-to-client ratio so that children can be taken to community outings like bowling, swimming, golf, fishing and park visits.

“Many of the kids we serve don’t really attend community outings because they haven’t had the opportunity,” said Basma Fouad, a mental health counselor who works with the Lourdes day program.

Helping the children is rewarding for those who work with them, Fouad said.

“Just getting to see the kids’ expressions, all the things we do,” she said. “They really, really enjoy just getting to see each other over the summer.”

The kids even help out with a drive for 2nd Harvest Food Bank, making posters for the program.

The program, which serves between 25 and 40 children, has some sponsors, but Lourdes doesn’t know from year to year how much money it will receive. It needs about $60,000 to operate for six to eight weeks, Gillispie said.

This story was originally published December 28, 2014 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Wish List: Lourdes seeks help for summer children’s program."