Center Receives $100k Grant to Expand Access to Expert Mental Health Services to Youth Regardless of Income

FEC staff with legislators

Minnesota Legislature helps Family Enhancement Center secure funding for youth impacted by sexual abuse

July 8, 2019 · Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mental health conditions effect one in five children in the United States this year. Children, who have experienced trauma can have an especially hard time coping with their experiences, regaining their developmental progress and learning how to return to feelings of safety and security. To help expand mental health services to children in Minnesota impacted by sexual abuse, Minneapolis-based Family Enhancement Center (FEC) has received a new, $100,000 grant, which was secured by the Minnesota State Legislature, that will allow the non-profit organization to hire additional staff and administrative support needed to provide children access to expert mental health services regardless of a child’s insurance status or income.

Available for the fiscal year 2020, the grant will allow the FEC to serve approximately 100 more survivors in the following year through the onboarding of additional trauma informed trained staff members. The FEC uses a unique blend of body centered techniques like movement, art, drumming and yoga to heal sexual abuse.

“There are so many children waiting to begin their healing journey, and this grant helps them to get moving,” said Libby Bergman, director at the Family Enhancement Center. “This financial support will allow more patients to be seen and supported, and underscores Minnesota’s commitment to mental health.”

Family Enhancement Center provides mental health services to children in Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Wright and Washington counties, many of whom are underserved and are working with fewer financial resources.

“Currently, many patients are in need of care and have to wait months to receive treatment and healing care, said Barb Klatt, current board member and founding member of the Family Enhancement Center. “The healing process needs to start immediately, and we are here to help.”

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Legislators Honored at FEC Open House

As a thank you for the effort needed to gain this financial support, the legislators who helped secure the grant were honored on July 16th at a Family Enhancement Center event that included breakfast, guest speakers and a tour of the facility. Representatives Aisha Gomez, Hodan Hassan, Rena Moran and Lyndon Carlson were in attendance as well as Senator John Hoffman.

Representatives from the Minnesota State Legislature joined members of the community to discuss the opportunity that the federal health system offers and highlighting the impact.

“We are incredibly thankful for the hard work by members of the Minnesota State Legislature, as their dedication to youth impacted by trauma is profound, said Bergman.