GEAUGA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES COLLABORATE TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES

GEAUGA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES COLLABORATE TO REDUCE ACCESS BARRIERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES
Together supporting individuals and families struggling through the pandemic

Melanie Blasko, Pres. & CEO
E-Mail: mblasko@lgrc.us
Phone: 440.255.0678
Fax: 440.255.6348
Alternate: John Keller, Chief Development Officer
Phone: 440.205.2671

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mentor, OH September 1, 2022: Social service agencies throughout Geauga County share a collaborative goal to work with individuals and families who continue to struggle with mental health and substance use challenges through the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. A global pandemic that has greatly exacerbated the opiate epidemic. Together, we are focused on reducing the unique barriers to access critical behavioral health treatment services, wrap-around programs, and on-going support to connect our community to appropriate resources, building a strong, sustainable foundation in recovery. We hope to promote awareness and timely access to individuals struggling with limitations preventing access to life-changing care, such as being uninsured, or under-insured.

The Geauga County Mental Health Collaborative (GCMHC) includes the following local nonprofit partners:

Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers
Ravenwood Health
WomenSafe
Family Pride
Catholic Charities
Next Step
Torchlight

The GCMHC Goal: To build awareness of the importance of emotional wellness and provide timely access to treatment and support services to children, adults, seniors, and families who have been impacted by mental health, substance use disorders, family violence, and trauma.

Many in our community struggle as the pandemic ensues, to make a living wage, meet daily needs, or are under-insured with high deductibles – all leading to significant financial hardships. By working together, providing evidence-based behavioral health services and coordinating our resources, social service agencies will generate a guaranteed referral network so individuals and families can receive the support they need, well into the future.

Each GCMHC nonprofit agency shares with it a mission aligned with providing support services for this expressed community need. We are grateful for funding from the United Way of Geauga County to continue these life-saving behavioral health services. With this generous grant, we can move forward with our collaboration, sharing our strengths and diversity to fully meet the unique needs of our community. Together, as we facilitate the solution, we are establishing a more formal partnership, providing a full-spectrum of timely comprehensive support services for individuals and families desiring an improved quality of life in Geauga County.

If you would like to learn more about the collaborative, please contact Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers President & CEO Melanie Blasko, LPC-S, LICDC-CS at 440.205.2674 or mblasko@lgrc.us.

Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers is a private, nonprofit agency providing continuous service to the community since 1971. Services at Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers are made possible due to the generous support of the Lake County ADAMHS Board, the Geauga Board of MHRS, and United Way of Lake & Geauga Counties.

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