Erie, Ottawa counties receive $270,000 mental health grant

jackson@sanduskyregister.comSANDUSKYErie and Ottawa counties have received a state grant of about $270,000 to bring mental health services to young children.The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services awarded the $265,387 grant to the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties and to Bayshore Counseling Services.The funding will pay for two new mental health consultants, who will work with local teachers at three sites: At Family Health Services of Erie County, a community health center on the south campus of Firelands Regional Medical Center, and two local schools.The school sites haven't been selected yet, although it's likely one will be in Erie County and one will be in Ottawa County, said Kirk Halliday, executive director of the Mental Health Recovery Board.He said more details should be ironed out when Bayshore and board officials discuss the grant at the board's Feb. 16 meeting in Port Clinton.The grant will serve children eight years old and younger.The consultants will be available for two days at each school, one day at Family Health Services and will spend the other days providing consultation and training for parents and staff."At the school sites, we hope to break the school-home cycle of reports being sent home which are perceived as negative behaviors by the parents," said Harriet Whelan, executive director of Bayshore. "Part of the interventions will be the reduction of stigma related to children who have emotional, developmental, environmental and sensory issues that result in labeling the child rather than the behavior."The consultant will provide help when there are factors that could affect school performance such as family poverty, a missing parent, a recent divorce or an abandonment, Halliday said.