LOHF (Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation) recently approved funding to four Lancaster County children's behavioral health programs. These programs impact young people who have specific mental health needs and for whom access to mental health care may be particularly challenging. The grants program is an important part of LOHF's strategy to improve access to behavioral health support for youths and children locally.
A grant of $8,300 was awarded to Bethany Christian Services' Together Facing the Challenge Project. The funds will train and engage 28 staff members from Bethany's foster care and counseling departments in an evidence-based model for therapeutic foster care that takes a strengths-based educational approach with youths. This will prepare staff to train foster parents and additional staff.
COBYS Family Services was awarded $14,081 for increasing child behavioral health services through the Supervision of Unlicensed Therapists program. The funds will provide licensure training and supervision to two new therapists toward their professional licenses, allowing COBYS to expand behavioral health services to 40 more children per week.
Mental Health America of Lancaster County was awarded $11,000 to partner with Teen Hope, a program of Samaritan Counseling Center. The partnership will expand its reach and provide mental health education to ninth- and 10th-grade students prior to screenings for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk.
Milagro House was awarded $14,000 for Streamlining Behavioral Health Access: Supporting Women and Children Affected by Trauma and Poverty Initiative. The initiative is a partnership between Milagro House, Clare House, and Good Samaritan Services to restructure education programs serving mothers and children in these shelters, using a trauma-informed approach.
LOHF's Children's Behavioral Health Grants Program aims to elevate the mental well-being of youths and children by supporting local programs that help to answer one or both of two questions: How can we build the talent pipeline in behavioral health care for youths and children in Lancaster County? And how will we improve access to mental well-being for youths and children in Lancaster County?
Applicants are encouraged to replicate existing models that have been successful and to work collaboratively with others to improve mental health services for individuals from birth to age 26. An additional $100,000 in grant funds will be available. Applications for the spring grant cycle are due by Sunday, March 1, 2020. Tax-exempt community benefit organizations serving Lancaster County are eligible to apply. To learn more, readers may visit http://www.lohf.org.
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