The SEEDS Program (Strategies for Emergency Empowerment for Delta Students) through the Community Students Learning Center in Lexington, MS is a program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help children and families in Holmes County deal with the aftermath of natural disasters. Families as Allies is a partner on the project.
Henry Luckett is the project director and one of his visions for the project is to connect students with sports coaches, such as Coach Luana Greer, who coaches the Holmes County Central women’s basketball team—which won the 5A state championship in 2016. Luckett said he feels that, for some students, coaches, can be easier to approach than classroom teachers when they have coping issues or emotional challenges, as sports tends to create an environment for more emotional release. SEEDS gives coaches the tools they need to teach children coping skills in settings that are natural and welcoming to students.
“I’m a young lady who has dealt with a lot of trauma, whether it’s personal trauma … so when he approached me about the SEED program I thought it was something that would be very, very important for our kids to learn from,” Coach Greer said. “With me, they can let loose a little bit and be themselves. Implementing the program was … easy because of the relationship I have with children.”
We appreciate them sitting down with Families as Allies to discuss this smart solution to a challenge in their community. You can watch the full video here on our blog or on Youtube.
