Lena Pope’s Director of Counseling Services may be new to her role, but she’s definitely not new to the organization. Shana Hazzard, LCSW-Supervisor, has been with Lena Pope for 23 years, and she couldn’t be more excited to serve in this new capacity.
“I started with Lena Pope working in our foster care department, and I’ve been with our counseling department since 2009,” Shana shares. “Not only do I love what I do, but I love who I do it for. Lena Pope has been in our community almost 100 years, and we’ve done a lot of amazing things during that time. I’m proud to represent Lena Pope in my new role.”
Shana sees Lena Pope’s counseling department as an integral part of the Fort Worth community. “Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls youth mental health ‘the defining public health issue of our time,’ and I agree with him,” Shana shares. “We are in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I don’t think it’s slowed down since COVID ended. Kids are more stressed out, anxious, and depressed, and we’re seeing an increase in suicidal ideation and self-harming behavior. The acuity of their needs is greater than it ever has been.”
Thankfully, according to Shana, “Our counseling team provides the best care out there to any member of our society, and we’re always working to learn and grow. I’m confident we have what it takes to meet the challenges children and families are facing.”
“Lena Pope serves children and families from all income levels,” concludes Shana. “We serve anyone who walks through our doors. And because we accept insurance and can offer flexible payment options, we’re able to serve populations who wouldn’t have the resources or maybe even the ability to find good counseling somewhere else.”