MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County’s Department of Mental Hygiene is looking to get more involved with schools and helping students and staff by setting up mental health clinics at two colleges and four public schools.
During a recent meeting of the county Legislature, lawmakers unanimously approved a $150,000 school-based mental health grant to be used for educational training, billing, equipment and electronic medical records expenses.
The resolution was not discussed during the full legislature meeting, but Carmelo Hernandez, the director of Community Mental Hygiene Services, talked about it during the June Human Services and Audit and Control committee meetings.
Hernandez said the money will help with school-based clinics from July 1-Dec. 31 of this year. Schools that will participate include Jamestown Community College, SUNY Fredonia, Clymer, Southwestern, Frewsburg and Westfield. They’re also partnering with Erie 2 BOCES.
According to Hernandez, the schools were selected following a needs-based assessment survey. He hopes that after the program runs, the results will be shown to other schools so they may participate in the future. “My goal is to be in every school in Chautauqua County,” he said.
Hernandez was asked why Jamestown and Dunkirk weren’t included. He said Jamestown is in the process of starting its own community school model and Dunkirk has some satellite offices already in place.
Legislator Elisabeth Rankin, R-Jamestown, expressed her support. “We really need it,” she said.
Even though the funding is for six months, Hernandez said they hope to create satellite clinics, which can be a billable service and self-sustaining.
“What the plan is with these funds is to allow extra training and extra support within the school that the school could utilize at their disposal, so we’re not charging them for our services,” he said.
For staff, the funds can be used for active shooter training and professional development in terms of mental health. Hernandez can envision guidance counselors getting additional training.
According to the state Office of Mental Health website, funds are to improve access to mental health resources; support students who have experienced stress, anxiety, and/or trauma; and support the adults surrounding them.
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Gregory Bacon
JUN 30, 2022
