Expand Play Therapy to Children and Youth

Therapeutic services such as play therapy for children and group therapy for adolescents can be crucial to healthy development. But in parts of Alabama, disadvantaged youth and at-risk families may struggle to connect with these opportunities and support.

This Tiger Giving Day, the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program asks for your support to bring healthy development resources to Alabama youth. 

Your gift will provide toys and materials for play therapy, help expand MFT’s internship program to serve underprivileged youth, and support group therapy services to improve the well-being of Alabama families at I Am My Brother’s Keeper (IAMBK).

IAMBK’s mission is to provide family and youth services that enable disadvantaged youth and at-risk families to become self-supportive and thrive in their homes, schools and communities. The Auburn University MFT program started a collaborative effort with I Am My Brother’s Keeper in 2019 to lay the foundation for family therapy services that support academic progress, growth and emotional well-being. By expanding this partnership through Tiger Giving Day, IAMBK will be equipped with the resources they need to create a fully-functional play room to support play therapy. 

This project will also expand the Auburn MFT assistantship program, which will allow the next generation of emerging therapists to gain valuable work experience as they improve the health and well-being of Tuskegee’s youth.

The young children and their families in the Tuskegee area who participate in IAMBK will receive psychological and emotional support through improved play therapy and group therapy services. Likewise, increasing the funding to expand the therapy assistantship for services in Tuskegee will help establish therapy services as a continued aspect of IAMBK and link with performing arts and tutoring services.