The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines awarded Orchard Place a $6,500 grant from the Scott Shafer Memorial Fund for Children’s Mental Health, supporting the Orchard Place Child Guidance Center (CGC) Sliding Fee Scale Program.
For 32 years, Dr. Scott Shafer was a champion for Iowa youths mental health and a respected CGC psychologist. “Scott had a great sense of humor and was a wonderful coworker,” shared Gladys Alvarez, the Trauma Informed Care Project Coordinator at Orchard Place.
Dr. Shafer played a key role in establishing the School-Based Therapy Team, formerly known as the Outreach Team during his time. He was often approached by former clients in the grocery store who thanked him for helping keep their families together. His team led the way for what CGC is today, a federally accredited community health center serving as a crucial safety net for youth and families seeking mental health support.
Over the past fiscal year, 82 percent of Orchard Place youth were Medicaid eligible. Making the Sliding Fee Scale Program used at CGC a critical resource. Jocelyn Wilson, the Director of Clinical Services at CGC, said, “The Sliding Fee Scale is just one of the practices we use to reduce barriers to access. It adjusts fees according to the family’s income level. This is on example of our commitment to providing a safe environment for children and their families to heal, find hope, be empowered, and build resilience to overcome mental health adversity.” The families who rely on CGC services often face significant barriers to treatment including poverty, food insecurity, unstable housing, and trauma.
With partners like The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Orchard Place is able to foster a safe environment for hope and healing. Learn more here and join us in developing strong futures.