Memphis Mayor Paul Young Awards $110,000 Grant to SchoolSeed's Kindred Place for Re-Establishment of Counseling Services

In a significant move to support mental health services in the community, Mayor Paul Young has awarded a $110,000 Mayoral Grant to Kindred Place, a well-known organization providing family counseling and child trauma services in Memphis. The grant will be instrumental in re-establishing Kindred Place, which temporarily paused operations earlier this year.

Kindred Place, a long-standing institution in Memphis, faced operational challenges that led its previous board to pause services in March. The board dissolved on June 30, transferring all assets to SchoolSeed Foundation, which acquired the organization in July. SchoolSeed, under the leadership of President and CEO Vincent J. McCaskill, plans to reopen Kindred Place later this year.

“Mayor Young’s grant is a vital boost for Kindred Place as we work to restore its services for the Memphis community,” said McCaskill. “We are deeply committed to reviving Kindred Place and ensuring that families and children in need of counseling have access to high-quality care.”

Dr. Sharon Griffin, who has been appointed as the Executive Director of Program Implementation at Kindred Place, emphasized the importance of this grant. “The demand for trauma-informed counseling services in Memphis is greater than ever. This funding will allow us to rebuild and expand our programs to meet the needs of our community more effectively.”

The grant from Mayor Young will support the restoration and enhancement of Kindred Place’s counseling services, focusing on therapeutic individual and group counseling for families and children. The planned reopening later this year marks a new chapter for the organization, which has served as a cornerstone of support in Memphis for many years.

Mayor Young’s decision to award this grant highlights the city’s commitment to investing in the mental health and well-being of its residents. The $110,000 grant will help ensure that Kindred Place can continue to provide critical services to families across the region.

With the backing of the City of Memphis and the leadership of McCaskill and Dr. Griffin, Kindred Place is set to once again become a vital resource for those in need of counseling and support.