This year, Sprout turns 10 years old. And as that’s a very exciting milestone for us, our blog this month is an interview with our founder and owner, Erin Troup, LPC. Below we talk a little bit about the history of Sprout and think to the future as Sprout continues to grow.
Sprout: What inspired you to start Sprout?
Erin: I was working in Early Intervention at the time, and the grant we were working on focused on supporting young children’s mental health beyond the Early Intervention system. I loved working with that population, but I quickly realized there was a gap in mental health services that supported children in all of early childhood. I started Sprout as a very part time project, supporting children and their families in home and within their childcare programs. And, well, it’s grown a lot from those early days!
Sprout: What is something that has surprised you in the past 10 years?
Erin: I am surprised at the progress the world has made in embracing the need for mental health supports. Ten years ago, there was still a lot of work to be done around fighting the stigmas around mental illness. Now the concern has shifted, and we are more focused on how to give folks access to good quality mental health services. I am glad that Sprout is a part of that work.
Sprout: What are you most proud of?
Erin: The staff at Sprout. I cannot say enough about the dedication, knowledge, commitment, and energy that they bring to the work. We have so many professionals with varying specialties at Sprout, and with three offices, their expertise is available to so many children and families. I am so fortunate to be able to work alongside these wonderful humans who are working to impact the mental health of so many children in our communities.
Sprout: What do you see in the future for Sprout?
Erin: If you asked me 10 years ago if I thought Sprout would be where it is today, I never could have dreamed it! My hope is that we are continuing to offer children and families the best clinicians and support teams in all settings, but also incorporating more partners to share in the mission. I hope to see us sharing more information regarding children’s mental health and advocating to make sure that anyone who supports a child receives information that creates improved mental health literacy. I look forward to a future where more folks can feel confident that they are supporting kids well when mental health challenges arise.
