PSCC_ 2024 Impact Report

From our founders

Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to share the remarkable journey of Prairie Sky Counseling Center with you Over the past six months, we ' ve seen our dream take flight To date we ' ve provided an astounding 350 counseling hours across three locations, all made possible by the dedication of our amazing team and the unwavering support of you - our partners and donors

It's humbling to witness the impact we're making together We're continuously learning and growing, adapting as we acquire more understanding of the communities we serve With your continued support, we are turning our vision of increasing access to high quality, holistic counseling in Kansas City into reality. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you for being the driving force behind this incredible journey.

With warmth and gratitude,

Alice & Al

Alice Carrott and Al Eidson Founders

Our board of directors

Alice Carrott, President Fred Logan

Rev. Melanie Hardison, Vice President

Harvey Grossman, MD

Bob Sperry, Secretary/Treasurer Tim Harrison

Our year in review

2023 will forever be a pivotal year for Prairie Sky Counseling Center It’s the year the vision became a reality Leading up to our launch in October, the board approved a comprehensive three-year strategic plan, to guide us toward sustainable growth.

Our new name and identity, Prairie Sky Counseling Center, evokes a sense of openness and the expansive possibilities of healing and personal growth.

We solidified our partnerships with Village Church, Country Club Christian Church, and the Center for Spiritual Living as locations for our counseling services

Vision

A world where every person has access to the support and guidance needed to realize their fullest potential

Mission

To increase the availability of high quality, holistic counseling services that equip people to grow through life’s changes and challenges

From our executive director

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We did it! As we reflect on the first six months of Prairie Sky Counseling Center being open, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and awe This journey would not have been possible without the extraordinary support of our donors, organizational partners, dedicated staff, committed board members, and, most importantly, our brave clients

Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to offer high quality counseling services and create a safe space for healing and growth

Our team of counselors has shown exceptional dedication in providing quality care to our clients. Our board has guided us with wisdom and passion.

We are a community built on collaboration and shared vision Thank you for being a part of our story and for helping us take these first important steps. Please give yourself the gift of time to read through this celebration in word and image. Acknowledge your part in making it happen.

I am excited to see where our journey will take us next.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Jen Wewers, MDiv Executive Director

Counseling Center

Our first six months

In July, Prairie Sky Counseling Center welcomed Brittany Talley, LCPC, as our first clinical director. She quickly got to work and hired our inaugural team of three part-time clinicians. These therapists bring a diverse array of skills and expertise We added two more clinicians to the team in early 2024

As part of their onboarding, all staff members complete a certificate in Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health because we are committed to providing counseling that cares for the whole person

Prairie Sky Counseling Center also prioritizes professional development by attending the Solihten Institute national conference as well as special leadership groups for both our clinical and executive directors These opportunities give Prairie Sky the chance to be in conversation with other leaders

230 counseling sessions 59% of clients use our sliding fee scale Religion & Spirituality 39% Did not answer

Agnostic

6 part time counselors

62referrals 41clients

across the nation to explore innovative clinical and organizational management approaches.

In October, Prairie Sky celebrated our grand opening and welcomed our first clients Jewish Family Services and Kansas City Art Institute became referral partners As members of the Integrated Referral and Intake System (IRIS) community, we are connected with hundreds of nonprofits throughout the greater Kansas City community

Our licensed providers are credentialed with most private insurance carriers to help more people access counseling services In the coming year, we will have the ability to see clients who have Kansas or Missouri Medicaid. Currently, almost 60% of clients use our sliding fee scale.

lients

3 partner locations

25% of clients identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community

Prairie Sky Counseling Center is a member of the

Our clinicians

Prairie Sky Counseling Center aspires to be a place where therapists want to work The demanding nature of this profession, coupled with the emotional weight of supporting clients through their challenges, can take a toll on a clinician’s well-being

Recognizing the pressing issue of mental health counselor burnout, we are committed to fostering an environment that prioritizes the mental health and development of our clinicians.

We emphasize a collaborative and supportive culture where clinicians can openly discuss

challenges and seek guidance from peers and supervisors

By offering flexible schedules and support, clinicians are better able to sustain healthy boundaries and their own well-being

At Prairie Sky Counseling Center, the interdependence of the prairie ecosystem serves as a metaphor for our approach to supporting clinicians, understanding that by nurturing their well-being, t resilience to

Prairie Sky Counseling Center has been a breath of fresh air. They hold space for both autonomy and community in a way I haven't seen an organization execute effectively before I love it and can't recommend it enough to fellow clinicians!

Kelsey MacLaurine, LPC

My sessions are a highlight of my week! They have gotten me to a much better place, allowing me to dig deeper and keep working on new goals in my treatment plan I can not express my gratitude enough for all Prairie Sky Counseling Center has provided me I have and will continue to highly recommend them

Leslie Prairie Sky Client

Community Outreach & Education

Our community education and outreach initiatives are rooted in the belief that building relationships is essential for counseling referrals and strengthening our ties with partner organizations

Through workshops, seminars, and other collaborative efforts, we disseminate mental health resources and knowledge, fostering understanding and support within our community

These relationships not only facilitate referrals for Prairie Sky, but also deepen our outreach and impact in the larger community.

By cultivating strong connections with local communities, we create a network of mutual support, crucial for promoting mental wellness and resilience.

May 2023: Mental Health Awareness Month at Center for Spiritual Living Arranged for four Sunday speakers and hosted book club on Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown.

September 2023: Global Ties KC extended an invitation for us to meet with Jamie Kinlochan, a therapist from the UK and former participant in the U S Department of State exchange program, to explore unique therapy collective models

Fall 2023: Facilitated Healing, Learning, and Growing program of eight listening sessions titled at Rainbow Mennonite Church using a restorative justice circle model of engagement.

January 2024: Led Village Church

Presbyterian Women’s retreat: New Year True You

We have been extremely happy with our relationship with Prairie Sky. Having their counseling services on site helps fulfill our mission to provide healing and support for the whole person. We are grateful for this partnership as part of our ministry.

Rev Mike Irwin Center for Spiritual Living

Financials

January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Since 2020, 153 individuals and organizations have contributed to Prairie Sky Counseling Center. By mid-2022, $535,000 had been raised as seed money to support the launch of our counseling center.

This generosity and belief in the Prairie Sky mission has been invaluable as we build our counseling program and increase our program revenue over time

As our mission centers around enhancing accessibility to top-tier counseling services,

philanthropic backing will remain a fundamental pillar of our long-term viability

Like the prairie ecosystem's reliance on diverse flora and fauna, Prairie Sky Counseling Center flourishes with varied funding sourcesdonations, grants, insurance reimbursement, client payments, and other program revenue.

This diversity helps to fulfill our mission and sustain our operations for the future.

We would like to especially acknowledge Village Church and the Endowment Trust leadership and donors for providing early funding through the First Decision Fund.

Send Love, It Matters

Somewhere someone needs help.

Send love It matters

If you can’t get there yourself, then take a deep breath.

Breathe in the weight of their troubles.

Breathe out and send all those burdens into the Light

where sorrows can be held with the most tender and infinite grace

Breathe in what you can do.

Breathe out what you can’t change.

Spool out a thread of connection, send courage and calm

For the nights can be long and filled with shadows, and sometimes terrible unexpected waters will rise.

Somewhere someone needs help. Send love It matters

Carrie Newcomer

To every single person who listened to our story, gave a gift, made a connection, wrote an email, shared our phone number, came to an event, attended a training, prayed for this vision to become a reality thank you

You sent love. And it matters.