Denver Youth Hospitality Pro Bono Program
Khesed Wellness exists to eliminate the barriers to mental health and wellness services. We know restaurant workers are often underinsured or uninsured and unable to access affordable mental health therapy. We can help.
We are providing FREE mental health therapy to Denver youth and young adults working in the hospitality industry.
Why do youth in Denver employed by the hospitality industry need mental health support?
The restaurant industry faces an intersection of higher rates of mental health issues and limited access to affordable and culturally competent care.
17% of food service workers have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder.
Over 60% of restaurants in Denver do not offer health insurance benefits.
1 in 6 restaurant workers live below the poverty line.
Just 14.4 percent of restaurant workers receive health insurance from their employer, compared with roughly half (48.7 percent) of other workers.
The average age of restaurant workers is 23 years old, and teens make up as much as 24% of the restaurant workforce.
In order to qualify, participants must meet the following criteria:
Age 14-24
Denver resident
Employed in the hospitality industry, including restaurants, bars, hotels, tourism settings, and other service-oriented positions
Seeking individual outpatient therapy up to weekly sessions
Must complete pre and post-assessments
Each participant will receive 15 FREE sessions. Upon completion of the program, participants have the option to continue services through our other ongoing affordable or free programs.
As part of this program, Khesed Wellness will provide our therapists with support services for individual and group supervision related to youth therapy specialty professional development.