MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY INC

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (SEE SCHEDULE O):COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES: MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, INC. (D/B/A) COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, POVERTY, TRAUMA, AND MORE. THROUGH THE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS OFFERED IN OUR AGENCY, IN 2025 WE ASSISTED APPROXIMATELY 3,702 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH NEEDS TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SHELTER, FOOD, HEAT, ELECTRICITY, SOCIALIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, CONNECTION TO PRIMARY CARE, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. WE UTILIZE A MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT WITH A STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCE HIGH UTILIZATION IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. RESIDENTS, PROVIDERS, AND COUNTY OFFICIALS REFER DIRECTLY TO OUR AGENCY BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE WILL HELP IMMEDIATELY AND NOT PUT PEOPLE IN URGENT NEED ON A WAITLIST ALONG WITH HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WE ASSIST IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SERVICES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MALONE VILLAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CREATE THE MALONE VILLAGE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY SUPPORT INITIATIVE. WE HAVE ASSIGNED A LICENSED CLINICIAN TO ASSIST POLICE OFFICERS WHO DETERMINE AN INDIVIDUAL HAS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE. WE OFFERED: ADVOCACY (ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEMATIC PROCESSES AND CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES, MUTUAL SUPPORT (OUR CERTIFIED NYS PEER SPECIALIST OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE MUTUAL SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS BY SHARING LIFE EXPERIENCES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM), PEER WARM LINE, PEER CARE COORDINATOR (TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES, AND WORK OUT OF UVM ALICE HYDE MEDICAL CENTER AND ADIRONDACK MEDICAL CENTER), OUR RETAIL THRIFT STORE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS ASSIST ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS, MALE HOMELESS SHELTER, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, PEER NETWORK GROUP, RECIPIENT SERVICE FUNDS (HELP TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ISSUES), SUICIDE PREVENTION, SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVOR GROUP, FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATES IN SARANAC LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL, CHATEAUGAY CENTRAL SCHOOL, BRUSHTON/MOIRA CENTRAL SCHOOL AND ST. REGIS FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL, ADULT HEALTH HOME CARE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, DAY BY DAY MENTORING SERVICES. WE ALSO ADDED A WARMING/COOLING CENTER IN NOVEMBER 2025 TO ASSIST THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH NO PLACE TO STAY TO KEEP WARM IN THE WINTER AND COOL IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.