Helping Students Heal and Thrive
Every day, hundreds of children in Putnam County Schools quietly carry the weight of grief and loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, divorce, abandonment, or other traumatic circumstances, these students often struggle alone — and their academic, emotional, and social well-being suffer as a result.
Since 2011, BEST Groups (Be Each other’s Support Team) has provided a safe, compassionate, peer-supported space where children and youth can process grief, develop coping skills, and find hope for the future. This program is faith-neutral, respecting all school policies, and is offered free of charge as a Tier 2 intervention in partnership with Putnam County Schools.
Addressing the Hidden Crisis in Our Schools
Grief, trauma, and loss are powerful disruptors of a child’s ability to focus, learn, and thrive.
Many students lack consistent, caring adult support at home.
Without intervention, these challenges can lead to poor academic performance, social isolation, and risky behaviors.
BEST Groups is a Tier 2 intervention under the Putnam County School District Improvement Plan, serving students who are most at risk of failure due to life circumstances beyond their control.
Our Impact — By the Numbers
In the last two years alone, BEST Groups has served 993 students in Putnam County Schools.
In the 2024–2025 school year, we supported 492 students:
192 coping with loss due to death
177 coping with loss due to divorce
168 coping with loss due to abandonment
Evidence of Positive Change
Students complete pre- and post-surveys at the start and end of the 11-week program. Results consistently show:
Decreased negative responses from the first to last sessions
Increased positive responses and resilience
Independent data backs up these outcomes. A two-year study by the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families — which uses our curriculum — found:
Stress: ↓19% in children, ↓10% in teens
Anxiety: ↓16% in children, ↓10.5% in teens
Depression: ↓18.4% in children, ↓20% in teens
The Students & Communities We Serve
BEST Groups support students in grades 2–12 across Putnam County Schools — reaching 51 groups during the Fall 2025 semester.
Sessions meet weekly during the school day for about 11 weeks (45–60 minutes per session).
Students are referred by parents, teachers, counselors, or family members.
Because groups are held during the school day, children who cannot attend evening programs still have access to peer support.
We also offer training and curricula to school systems, counseling groups, youth advocacy organizations, and juvenile court programs across multiple states — extending our impact beyond Putnam County.
Serving Drug-Endangered and At-Risk Youth
Many BEST Groups students have been deeply affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Some live with grandparents or foster parents after being removed from unsafe homes. Others face the challenges of parental incarceration, deportation, deployment, or death from substance abuse.
BEST Groups equips these students with tools to:
Develop resilience and self-awareness
Build empathy and compassion
Recognize their own ability to make healthy choices
Feel empowered rather than powerless
Research shows a caring, consistent adult relationship is the single greatest factor in shifting a child’s mindset from hopelessness to optimism. BEST Groups provides that safe space and trusted adult presence.
How BEST Groups is Sustained
BEST Groups began its partnership with Putnam County Schools in 2011 as a federally funded Title I and Title V initiative. Over time, it grew into a state-supported grant program and is now sustained locally through General Purpose Funds, which support five Lead Facilitator positions held by Putnam County School employees. Today, BEST Groups is embedded in the Culture & Climate section of the district’s improvement plan—a testament to its deep integration into schools and its essential role for students.
Heart of the Cumberland strengthens this partnership by providing carefully vetted and trained volunteer co-facilitators through our BEST Groups program. Donations from generous supporters cover curriculum, materials, snacks, training costs, and the salaries of our Program Manager and Program Assistant. Together, this support system reflects the program’s proven impact and lasting value.
Bring BEST Groups to Your Community
BEST Groups isn’t just making an impact in Putnam County Schools — our evidence-based curriculum is available for schools and organizations across the country. Through our social enterprise, we provide the training, tools, and support you need to launch BEST Groups in your own community.
How You Can Help
Donate Snacks
Every BEST Groups student enjoys a weekly snack thanks to generous supporters like you. Help us continue this by choosing items from our Amazon Snack Wishlist below.
Volunteer
In Fall 2025, BEST Groups are running 51 groups across Putnam County Schools. Five dedicated PCSS employees serve as Lead Facilitators, while Heart of the Cumberland provides around 20 volunteer Co-Facilitators to make these groups possible. Check our Upcoming Events page for upcoming volunteer training opportunities or click below to learn more about co-facilitating in BEST Groups.