Jessie’s teacher was worried. The feisty 11-year-old used to be one of the friendliest kids in class, always eager to learn and reach out to others. But lately she seemed withdrawn and sad. Her grades were slipping, too. When Jessie’s mom explained that she and her husband were going through a divorce, the teacher nodded sympathetically and asked, “Have you heard about Kids In The Middle?”
KITM helps children and families during and after separation and divorce by offering counseling, education and support. It’s the only agency of its kind in the region, annually reaching up to 2,000 kids ages 3 ½ through high school. “We are unique in what we do and how we do it,” says CEO Judy Berkowitz. “No other organization focuses on the well-being and mental health of children during the entire divorce process, and beyond. We help the whole family make a transition to a new way of life, creating coping skills and healthier futures for everyone involved.”
When KITM opened in 1977, the agency provided group counseling only for children. “Since then, our scope has expanded to include individual counseling for kids, individual and co-parenting counseling for parents, and family and blended family counseling,” Berkowitz explains. “Our counselors have the specialized training and experience to work with kids and families in ways no other nonprofit or private practitioner can, providing the most comprehensive, individualized, solution-focused approach in the field.” Parents need not have been married to utilize KITM services, she adds.
Randi Mozenter, a Ph.D. clinical psychologist in private practice and on staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is KITM’s incoming board president. “It’s devastating for children when their family breaks up—they feel so alone and confused,” she says. “They benefit enormously from having a safe place to share their feelings, with peers who are going through the same thing. Divorce hurts. KITM helps.” Children cope better when their parents are involved in the counseling process, she adds. “The best thing divorcing parents can do is work as a team to provide a loving, secure environment for their children. Counseling helps them set aside their hurt and anger and focus on what matters most: the well-being of their kids.”
KITM is affordable for everyone, Berkowitz notes. “We never turn anyone away because of an inability to pay, and we offer free school outreach programs,” she says. “To reach as many families as possible, we rely on community support.” A key fundraiser, Swirl, Sip & Savor, takes place Nov. 14 at St. Louis Motorcars in Chesterfield. The wine-tasting and hors d’oeuvres event is cochaired by Angela Schaefer and Carey Stuesse.
Jessie is thriving in group therapy, with occasional individual sessions. “Now I know I won’t hurt my mom if I keep loving my dad—it’s OK to love both parents,” she says. “I wish we were still all together, but I feel better now. We’re still a family, even if we live in two homes.”
Illustration courtesy of Kids In The Middle
