The Knox County Board of Commissioners received an update from the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties during its meeting on January 23. The commissioners were informed that a levy for the agency will be on the November ballot.
"We've been very blessed in this county for years to have had the generosity of the taxpayers here approve a levy, and that has helped purchase services for children and for families and for adults that have addressed all sorts of mental health and addiction issues, and including prevention," said Kay Spergler, executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties, according to a YouTube video of the meeting.
Spergler said that Mental Health and Recovery makes its decisions and provides services with community partners, which include the sheriff's office, police department, schools, other social services, and businesses. This collaboration also involves the role played by the Knox County Commissioners in appointing three of the six Knox County members of the Mental Health and Recovery Board.
The agency's budget is approximately $15 million. Spergler noted it received a significant boost as it served as a pass-through for a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant. This state contribution is directed towards building the Knox County Behavioral Health Crisis Center by BHP of Central Ohio. According to BHP's website, it will be an 8,000-square-foot addition to their Knox County Office in Mount Vernon on Blackjack Road.
Mental Health and Recovery also secured another $1.5 million in federal grants from Health Services & Resources Services to support innovative practices. This funding facilitated a medically assisted treatment program at the Knox County Jail operated by the Freedom Center. It also supported prevention services in local schools through a program called Sources of Strength, which teaches protective factors such as critical thinking and decision-making skills when faced with adversity.
To obtain these grants, Spergler explained that they need to demonstrate an unmet need or expand successful programs. The Mental Health and Recovery Board must file its Community Plan with the state, outlining how it operates and its two major goals: decreasing suicide rates in Licking and Knox Counties and reducing unintentional overdose fatality rates in these areas.
