News - Our Stories

Partnering to Prevent Child Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. For the past 11 years, PACES has worked closely with Sunflower House, a non-profit children’s advocacy and abuse prevention center serving Johnson and Wyandotte counties. When a child experiences abuse and comes to Sunflower House for support, a team of PACES therapists is ready to work with the child and their family to help them work through their trauma and mitigate the lasting mental health impacts.

How Gen Z Can Invest in their Mental Health in 2023

For many people, the beginning of a new year inspires us to reflect on the previous year and set a goal or resolution for the upcoming year. For the oldest Gen Zers, many are setting a goal to improve their mental health in 2023. A recent Forbes Health poll found that 50 percent of adults aged 18-25 cited improved mental health as their top new year’s resolution. Their commitment to mental health eclipsed their desire to improve fitness (49%), improve their diet (33%) and lose weight (31%).

PACES & Heartland 180 Partner to Present The Parent Project

Are you looking to improve your relationship with your child(ren)? Heartland 180 is teaming up with PACES to present The Parent Project®, free parenting classes for parents of middle school and high school-aged youth.

“72 Hours to Plant a Seed of Positivity”

Children who come to Robert’s Place Emergency Shelter are experiencing some of the most difficult moments in their young lives. That anxiety, trauma and fear can make it difficult for a child to open up to another new adult. But the staff at Robert’s Place makes it their goal to provide a safe space for healing. 

“I often say to my team ‘we have 72 hours to plant a seed of positivity,’” says Chanda Wright, Robert’s Place Manager.

Keeping Our Kids Safe Online

As parents, we worry about our kids. It’s just what we do. We want our kids to be safe, healthy and happy. And we want to do what we can to protect our kids from potential harm. Sometimes, we have to make choices that – while unpopular with our kids – are important for their wellbeing. That includes monitoring their online activities

Working Together to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

As children head back to school for the spring semester, the U.S. Surgeon General is warning of a national youth mental health crisis. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory last month urging all of us to take action to address the mental health needs of young people.

A Space to Heal

When a child experiences abuse, it can turn a family’s world upside down. A partnership between PACES and Sunflower House is working to make sure these children and families have a place to process these experiences and receive support.

New PACES Project Working to Break Down Language & Cultural Barriers

Language and cultural barriers can sometimes serve as a deterrent to seeking out mental health services. A new project at PACES, called Paso a Paso (Step by Step), is working to reduce those barriers for the Hispanic and Latinx communities in Wyandotte County one step at a time.

“Giving Kids a Piece of Normalcy”: Psychosocial Program Adapts to Pandemic

For years, the psychosocial program at PACES has been helping young people in Wyandotte County learn vital social skills including communication, empathy, impulse control and problem solving. These skills would prove to be critical for children and adults alike during the COVID-19 pandemic. But when COVID-19 forced a stay-at-home order to go into effect in Wyandotte County, the psychosocial program at PACES was briefly shut down.

Taking a Whole Family Approach to Mental Health

When it comes to treating mental health conditions in children, the focus is typically almost solely on treating the child and responding to their needs. However, PACES is among a growing group of community mental health centers that are working to change that. More and more mental health providers are adopting a family-driven approach.

“My Version of Self Care”: PACES Therapist Volunteers with American Red Cross

In late August, as Hurricane Laura was barreling toward Lake Charles, Louisiana, PACES outpatient therapist Megan Hogan was packing her bags to respond with the American Red Cross. For the past four years, Hogan has served as a disaster mental health volunteer.

Overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder During a Pandemic

We all know that sunlight and outdoor time does wonders for our mood. Especially during the pandemic, the CDC is recommending socializing outdoors as much as possible. Outside time may be the only opportunity you have to visit with high-risk loved ones. Now that Daylight Saving Time has come to an end and the weather is beginning to feel like winter, you may notice you’re not feeling your best anymore.