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Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services promotes community engagement and outreach

Norwalk Reflector - 6/25/2020

Jun. 25--NORWALK -- The Huron CountyBoard of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS) has been focusing on increasing community engagement and outreach to raise awareness and education regarding the support and services available related to mental health and addiction in Huron County.

In the last five months, MHAS staff has applied for three grant opportunities that would bring funding into the community to increase, expand and implement needed supports and services in relation to mental health and addiction treatment, recovery housing, peer support and transportation. Board staff is also increasing their focus on outreach and community engagement.

MHAS is implementing multiple other initiatives to connect and keep the community informed, said Kristen Cardone, executive director of MHAS.

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Facebook Live and YouTube videos meetings will be posted of MHAS affiliates, like contracted agencies and local organizations, sharing who they are and the services they provide.

"We recognize the need for increased community engagement and outreach with the goal of trying to get information regarding available services and resources out to as many people as possible," Cardone said.

A follow-up newsletter containing information from each video will be sent out as well. MHAS is also preparing resource bags to distribute throughout the county.

"The resource bags are probably one of the main things we're working on. We're gathering brochures and materials form all of our contracted providers, from the United Fund that's able to help with some of the other needs outside of our area, Job and Family Services, our crisis text line," she said. "We're going to distribute them essentially anywhere and everywhere that people are willing to hand them out."

Resource bags will also include Naloxone information and will be distributed to the Huron County Jail, the United Fund, the Love Bus, the Salvation Army, local doctor's offices, dentist offices, the Department of Jobs and Family Services, the Chamber of Commerce, Haven Hypnosis, Huron County Public Health and anywhere else willing to distribute.

MHAS will also publish weekly newsletters to educate and provide resources, highlighting partnerships and collaborations throughout the county.

For more information on mental health and addiction services or to get involved in outreach initiatives throughout the county, contact MHAS at 419-681-6268 or email at huroncountymhas@gmail.com.

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