Thanks to a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente, the New Life Community Alliance’s Afterschool Program has expanded to include dedicated mental health support for its students.
Kaiser Permanente is a national leader in healthcare, is known for its holistic, compassionate care. That’s why they partnered with NLCA to support something truly special: an afterschool program that’s reimagining what support for kids can look like.
Under the leadership of Mechelle Fears, NLCA’s Afterschool Program brought this care to life, offering students needed support to help them grow and thrive. A grant from Kaiser helped the program grow, allowing it to provide well-rounded lessons and emotional support to third and fourth graders in South DeKalb.
The Afterschool Program began with a focus on math and reading – essential building blocks for every child’s education. But Mechelle had a bigger vision. She wanted her scholars to grow in every area of life.
Today, the program has expanded to include Artificial Intelligence, Dance, Chess, Art Therapy, and Scientific Exploration. “We’re offering our scholars a well-rounded experience that will help shape, inform, and empower them,” says Mechelle.
Each activity is designed with a purpose. Dance, for example, is more than movement. “My ultimate goal is to show that dance is a vehicle the children can use to share a story, express emotions, and to entertain,” Mechelle explains. She uses chess to teach them how to make thoughtful, intentional decisions about their lives.
As the program grew, so did her awareness that many students were quietly struggling. Mechelle began to see that many of her students were carrying heavy emotional burdens – from school stress to challenges at home.
Tammy Stanton, NLCA’s Manager of Case Management and Counseling and Career Services, recognized that some students came in “emotionally wound up,” dealing with bullying or getting in trouble while at school. Many were also carrying the weight of challenges at home, including domestic violence, food insecurity, and financial stress.
Tammy describes what many of the students are facing as “the trauma of poverty.” Despite everything they’re going through, these kids are still expected to “mentally endure, maintain their academics, and go to school,” she says. “They’re dealing with all of this stuff in their heads, so of course, there’s going to be behavior that follows.”
Unfortunately, school counselors don’t always have the capacity to meet every student’s emotional needs. That’s when the NLCA team recognized the gap and asked who could provide support during the Afterschool Program.
Tammy immediately knew just the right person: Malika Braz. You may remember Malika from our Spotlight blog post during her time as an intern. She has continued to be instrumental to the mental health component of NLCA’s Afterschool Program.
Thanks to the initial Kaiser grant, NLCA was able to bring Malika on part-time to provide case management for both students and their families. She quickly became a steady presence – leading circle time, teaching social-emotional skills, and helping children find the words for what they were feeling.
By the end of the first year, her impact was undeniable. “Kaiser was so impressed with Malika’s progress, data, and documentation of each individual case,” Tammy recalls, “they invited NLCA to apply for another year of funding.”
With Kaiser’s ongoing support, Malika is now a full-time Case Manager and Afterschool Counselor. The grant also allowed NLCA to purchase tools for emotional learning like yoga mats, card games that speak to emotional regulation, and little journals.
Now in its second year, the partnership between the NLCA and Kaiser is making a lasting difference – proof of the significant impact that Mechelle, Malika, and the entire team are having on children in South DeKalb. Read more stories of transformation at NLCA!
