Ten scholarships will be provided across multiple local police departments, with the goal of preparing first responders to interact successfully with residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Approximately 230 officers have participated in this training, provided by a Crisis Intervention Team from the Lorain County Board of Mental Health, over the past 14 years.
The training curriculum is updated every year by the Lorain County Board of Mental Health and a committee of law enforcement officers, mental health providers, and hospital representatives.
“The Board of Mental Health is grateful for the Community Foundation’s support of this important work. With their assistance, the Board and its partners will be able to provide this life-saving training to additional officers and that is a great thing for Lorain County.” Charles Neff, Executive Director of the Lorain County Board of Mental Health (LCBMH).
The weeklong training includes lectures taught by professionals, tours of organizations such as the Lorain County Jail, Gathering Hope House, Nord Center, and hospitals. A panel of individuals with a mental health diagnosis will also present during the week.
Topics cover mental illness, treatment, medications, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), domestic violence, suicidal youth unaccompanied by adults, developmental disabilities, dementia, substance abuse, and de-escalation techniques, among many more subject areas.
“NAMI Lorain County is proud to have this partnership to provide this kind of special training to our police officers. Knowing how to handle those persons with mental illness when they are in crisis in our neighborhoods has been proven to produce better outcomes for the mentally ill, the family care-givers, as well as safety for the police.” Clare Cygan-Young, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Lorain County.
The training is scheduled for April 2017.
Funding for this grant is provided by the Mike Bass Ford Fund, the Bluecoats of Lorain County Fund, the Chronicle-Telegram Endowment Fund, the Papenbrock Family Fund, and the Jim and Carla Park Fund. The Bluecoats Fund of Lorain County supports programs that aid law enforcement and firemen in the discharge of their duties.
The Bluecoats Fund also supported a grant in 2016 for Join the Force Now, a recruitment campaign and collaboration between the Cities of Elyria and Lorain to encourage and actively connect with communities of color and women (including women of color) to explore joining the police force.
The complete list of grants awarded follows.
Arts & Culture ‑ $80,430
Baldwin Wallace University
Community Music School Summer Programs for Lorain County Students ‑ $5,500
Center for Arts-‑Inspired Learning
Digital Storytelling Residencies at Elyria City Middle Schools ‑ $15,430
Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
General Operating Support ‑ $22,000
Lorain County Historical Society
Community Educational Outreach ‑ $12,500
Oberlin Heritage Center/O.H.I.O.
General Operating Support ‑ $25,000
Civic Affairs ‑ $95,280
Humility of Mary Housing, Inc.
Faith House ‑ $20,000
ideastream
Healthy People, Healthy Places, Healthy Future ‑ $10,000
Leadership Lorain County
Internship Program ‑ $30,000
Main Street Amherst
General Operating Support ‑ $5,500
Main Street Vermilion
State Certification ‑ $5,500
Main Street Wellington
General Operating Support and State Certification ‑ $15,000
Oberlin Business Partnership
General Operating Support ‑ $5,500
SCORE Cleveland Chapter 30
Access Lorain County ‑ $3,780
Education ‑ $124,400
National Inventors Hall of Fame
Camp Invention for Elyria City Middle Schools ‑ $49,900
Ohio State University Extension
4‑H Youth Development ‑ $40,000
Save Our Children, Inc.
Afterschool and Summer P‑rograms ‑ $28,500
Scholastic Games of Lorain County
Scholastic Games of Lorain County ‑ $6,000
Health ‑ $154,200
American Red Cross, Lake Erie / Heartland Chapter
Supporting Disaster Cycle Services in Lorain County ‑ $15,000
Gathering Hope House
Art Recovery Therapy ‑ $6,200
Lorain County Free Clinic
General Operating Support ‑ $50,000
Lorain County General Health District
Car Seat Program ‑ $4,000
Lucy Idol Center for the Handicapped
General Operating Support ‑ $15,000
Mercy Foundation of Lorain County
Parish Nurse Program with an Emphasis on Diabetes and Cancer Screenings ‑ $55,000
Prevent Blindness Ohio
Vision Care Outreach ‑ $9,000
Social Services ‑ $356,695
Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services
Senior Assistance Program ‑ $7,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, Inc.
General Operating Support ‑ $50,000
Blessing House
General Operating Support ‑ $50,000
El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc.
Adult/Senior Services and Emergency Funds to Support Migrant Families ‑ $45,000
Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP)
Independent Living and Employment Services in Lorain County ‑ $35,000
Lorain County Office on Aging
Southern Satellite Office General Operations ‑ $33,070
NAMI of Lorain County
Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement Officers ‑ $15,000
Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center
Lorain County Capacity Building Project ‑ $25,000
RePlay for Kids
Adapting Toys for Lorain County Children with Disabilities ‑ $6,125
Salvation Army
Emergency Social Services in Lorain County ‑ $45,000
Stein Hospice Service
Children’s Bereavement Program and Camp Good Grief ‑ $1,000
United Cerebral Palsy Assoc. of Greater Cleveland
Project SEARCH ‑ $5,000
Wellington Exempted Village Schools
Comprehensive School Based Prevention Model ‑ $17,000
Youth Challenge
Adapted Sports and Recreation for Lorain County Children with Physical Disabilities ‑ $22,000
Founded in 1980, the Community Foundation of Lorain County is made up of more than 590 endowed Funds valued at approximately $120 million dollars. On average, $4.4 million is awarded annually in grant support to non-profit organizations in Lorain County. Visit www.peoplewhocare.org.