September 2000

Forming a Mentality that
Leads to Positive Actions

Zach hopes to make the freshman high school basketball team this winter. A common goal with little significance, except that it hasn’t been all that common for Zach to set goals—and that makes it very significant. Although Zach’s physical health enabled him to be productive, his mental health was plagued with reckless decisions.

"Zach was described to me as a somewhat uncontrollable child that didn’t listen," says Russ Gooden, children’s case manager, Mental Health Association. "He was constantly getting into trouble and making poor decisions. You name it...Zach would try it—anything from theft to lying and manipulating."

"I’d probably be sitting in lock-up right about now if my family wouldn’t have pushed for me to get help," says Zach.

They found the help they needed after Zach’s sixth-grade year in the form of the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, a United Way-funded agency. Since that time, Zach’s life has turned around faster than his patented basketball spin move.

Taking a Mental Approach

"We bring in kids that need a lot of structure, who are having trouble managing their behavior," says Gooden.

The Mental Health Association helps these troubled youth find the way to function appropriately within the home, community and schools. Along with programs that develop the youths’ abilities to interact and respond to others, a therapy class that focuses on behavior and relationship management is required.

"Our goal is to provide a lot of empowerment to these kids in terms of their behavior, actions and goals," says Gooden. "In the long-term, we want to see them succeed without having to rely on the services we offer."

A Healthy Mentality

Zach has been involved with the Mental Health Association for nearly two years and is now relying very little on their programs and is demonstrating major improvements. According to Gooden, Zach has become more confident and structured academically, raising his grade point average from 1.25 to 3.0.

"He has really opened up and become very social, responsible and respectful," says Gooden. "He also thinks a lot more about his actions and the consequences they might bring to himself and others."

Zach has turned his negative energy into positive gain. Besides basketball, he’s into art, music and has even begun working with younger kids on controlling their behaviors. Zach was recently honored with an "Oscar" award, from a program through the Mental Health Association and the State of Kansas, for his dramatic behavior improvements and his current work with area youth.

"The Mental Health Association is backing me up and building my self-esteem," says Zach.

With that support, Zach just might find success on the basketball court—but he will for sure find success in life.

Call United Way of the Plains at 267-1321 to find out more about how your money is helping our community.