By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Zoom Room supports clients at The Center for Counseling & Consultation
zoom room 2020
The Center for Counseling & Consultation is being equipped with a Zoom Room thanks to $10,000 in grants from two organizations. From left to right in the foreground are Christy Tustin, Larry and Kathy Schugart, Randy Goering and Julie Kramp. In the background are Wendy Lockwood, Jennifer Schartz, Julie Braymer, Bill Manning, Billie Downum and Kelli Legleiter.

When clients cannot meet with staff in person at The Center for Counseling & Consultation, the new Zoom Room will offer the next best option. 

The project was made possible with $10,000 in grants – half from the Larry and Kathy Schugart Donor Advised Fund at the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF) and half from the Schmidt Foundation. 

The Zoom Room will allow The Center to assist clients who have difficulty accessing telehealth services on their own, explained Julie Kramp, executive director. 

“During this pandemic, we have learned many people we serve don’t have internet or computers at home,” Kramp said. “Some have mobile phones but because of limited minutes, they can’t access the amount of services they need. 

“The Zoom Room will help them access mental-health services via telemedicine. And through our OneCare Kansas program and case-management services, we can assist them in connecting with their primary-care providers.” 

The Zoom Room is being constructed at The Center’s Great Bend office, 5815 Broadway; it should be up and running by late August. The play room will move from the basement to an existing office on the main floor. 

In addition, with computers from the United Healthcare Community Plan, The Center can provide Zoom access at its offices in Larned, Lyons and St. John throughout the pandemic and beyond.

“We are so thankful these Foundations understand the importance of mental health,” Kramp said. “It is as necessary as physical health. Now we can help our community members access both.” 

The Zoom Room project was born during a conversation between Randy Goering, representing the Schmidt Foundation, and Christy Tustin, GBCF executive director. 

“I learned about this need from Julie at The Center,” Tustin said. “Later, while talking to Randy Goering about the Schmidt Foundation, I mentioned this project. After he indicated it would be a good fit for the Schmidt Foundation, I approached the Schugarts who didn’t hesitate to provide the matching funds. 

“The Golden Belt Community Foundation was happy to share information and ideas about community needs and help connect the dots to make the Zoom Room a reality.” 

The Schmidt Foundation is the legacy of Robert and Patricia Schmidt, who founded Eagle Communications. Their wishes were to use Foundation funds to help worthy projects in communities served by Eagle, said Goering, market manager. 

“Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the Foundation board offered a $5,000 matching grant to each Eagle market for food, shelter, clothing, or physical and mental health concerns,” Goering said. “The Zoom Room seemed to be a great fit. 

“We are so pleased that the Schugarts were willing to match the Schmidt grant to make the project a reality.”