Belton Educational Foundation continues to work with the Belton School District #124 to secure funding in support of the ACCESS Program.  Recently the Belton Educational Foundation’s efforts resulted in the awarding of a $50,724 Applicant Defined Grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.  The funding will be used to continue the district’s partnership with Pathways Behavioral Healthcare.  As a result of the grant, Pathways will provide one licensed therapist to the district.  This therapist will provide individual and family counseling to students.  The ACCESS Program removes many barriers to therapy including transportation, costs, and scheduling conflicts.  By offering therapy sessions in district schools, students are able to spend more time in class because they do not have to travel to another location.  The ACCESS Program also brings together multiple layers of interventions within the schools and allows for open communication between teachers, counselors, and therapists.  This program has experienced great success in the District.  Foundation Executive Director Heather McFarland states that “We as a District realize that our students are unable to reach their full potential if they are not able to concentrate on their learning.  Therefore, we are working to systematically remove the barriers to learning our students face.  The ACCESS Program helps remove one of those barriers.  By offering therapeutic services in our schools, we are enabling students to cope with the issues life hands them.  Once the students have entered therapy, teachers are seeing improvements in their ability to engage in learning.  When our students are more engaged in learning, they have a better chance at being successful in life.”