DOWNINGTOWN, PA — A Child’s Light has received a $6,500 grant to fund immediate trauma therapy for Chester County children, expanding a program designed to move young patients into private treatment within days rather than leaving them on months-long waitlists.
The grant was awarded through the Westfield Legacy of Caring Program following a nomination by Miller’s Insurance Agency. It was presented July 20 at the agency’s Downingtown office.
A Child’s Light pays a network of more than 100 trauma-informed therapists directly, allowing children and adolescents who have experienced severe trauma to begin specialized care in as little as five days, according to the nonprofit.
The organization stated that subsidized youth mental health services in Chester County can carry waits of several months.
The new funding will cover the first 12 therapy sessions, or about three months of treatment, for local children. The model is intended to remove upfront financial barriers and provide early intervention for cases involving grief, abandonment and abuse.
“This will change children’s lives,” founder and Executive Director Leslie Holt stated.
Miller’s Insurance Agency selected A Child’s Light for consideration under the Westfield program, which allows participating independent insurance agencies to direct foundation funding to local nonprofits.
Fran Shaw, managing partner and chief operating officer of Miller’s Insurance Agency, stated that youth mental and physical health has broad implications for the community’s future.
The Westfield Insurance Foundation has operated the Legacy of Caring Program since 2015, focusing on nonprofits that help families stabilize and overcome hardship.
Founded in 2019, A Child’s Light serves children and adolescents ages 2 through 18 in the Chester County region. The nonprofit funds an initial 12-session course of treatment through its private therapist network.
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