At the beginning, the problem was transportation. Rita Boer, practice manager for Community Services Group's (CSG) Lancaster and Dauphin outpatient programs, said that transportation to mental health services in Lancaster was identified as an issue in Paradise prior to 2016 and in New Holland during the next few years.
"Our main office is in Lancaster, and we were hearing how (transportation) was a barrier for people who don't live in the city ... and some were not comfortable coming into the city because they were more familiar with their own communities," explained Boer. "We were hearing that was a barrier ... and that there was a high demand and high need for mental health services, so we said, 'Let's do what we can to bring services into these communities.'"
In Paradise, the Together Initiative Network (TIN) had identified the need for mental health services to be provided in the area. "TIN looks at whole community, and that group saw a need for mental health services," said Boer, who noted that office space was available for a counselor to meet with patients in the Together Community Center (TCC). In New Holland, CrossNet executive director Meredith Dahl first contacted CSG when area students were waiting up to six months to receive services.
Leanna Hassler, who received her master's degree in clinical counseling from Alvernia University, was the first CSG employee to provide mental health services at TCC. Hassler, who has worked with children and families using ecosystemic structural family therapy, worked closely with the advocates at The Factory Ministries, which is located at TCC, to connect with patients. In 2018, Hassler brought those same services to CrossNet, but she was soon joined in working outpatient settings by a second therapist. "We needed part of our clinicians time to be in the main office to help keep them connected to what we were doing in the larger clinic," said Boer, who noted that about six months ago Angela Keller was brought in to provide services at CrossNet. Keller has a master's degree in social work from Millersville University, and she has worked in the mental health field since 2003. She utilizes a person-centered therapeutic approach.
Prior to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hassler was visiting TCC each Monday and Tuesday to provide outpatient therapy by appointment. Hassler was also working at CrossNet, but eventually Keller took over visiting New Holland one day per week, and she was quickly filling appointments. "Both (counselors) work with people across the age range from children through adults," said Boer.
When the state was closed by COVID-19 restrictions in March, Boer reported that CSG quickly shifted most of its services to telehealth. "We began to meet ... via video conferencing and phone appointments," she said, noting that state regulations were changed to allow for these opportunities. "It was a big shift to implement, but it was something that our staff felt good about because they could safely meet with people," said Boer, who noted that most clients said that they felt safer as well. "The move to telehealth allowed more flexibility in scheduling people (that the counselors had) met in community centers," said Boer.
The global pandemic impacted mental health, with CSG seeing an influx in need for services overall. Both counselors have continued to provide virtual appointments, which Boer said has gone well. State authorization for such visits has been extended until the end of 2020.
Readers in Paradise may contact The Factory Ministries at 717-687-9594 about services. In New Holland, residents may call CrossNet at 717-355-2454. Individuals in either Paradise or New Holland may also call CSG directly at 877-907-7970 for more information about services. Boer mentioned that in the future when telemedicine is less prevalent, callers should mention if they want TCC or CrossNet when they call.
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