FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1/4/2023
[Lebanon, PA] – The Community Health Council of Lebanon County is thrilled to announce they are the recipient of a $150,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This 15-month grant aims to address substance use and behavioral health concerns among young adults through various community-based programming and services. Implementation partners for this grant include Lebanon Family Health Services and EmPower the Mind, LLC.
The overarching goals set by PCCD include increasing the availability of youth-focused substance use and behavioral health services, identifying and addressing local needs, and fostering partnerships within the community for better coordination of such services.
The first goal of the Community Health Council’s project is to implement evidence-based intervention and cessation programs for youth caught with substances other than nicotine. Prior to this funding, cessation services were only available for teens caught with nicotine products. Lebanon Family Health Services will now offer two new programs, Teen Intervene and What Teens Need to Know, aimed at youth using substance other than nicotine, including marijuana and opioids.
Building on the success of the Anti-Vaping and Tobacco Coalition, this new grant expands current work around cessation, mental health, advocacy, and awareness programs, leveraging existing relationships between coalition partners, school districts, justice systems, and organizations working with adjudicated teens. The coalition’s goal is to increase partnerships within the community to better coordinate services for students and their families across the county.
The project will serve as a conduit between students with mild to moderate substance abuse concerns and local mental health supports. By adding Teen Intervene and What You Need to Know curriculums and a trained counselor to existing substance abuse protocol, the project aims to support efficient referrals to appropriate mental health programs, addressing the shortage of school-based counseling options and long waitlists for adolescent services.
“We are very proud of the work that our coalition has been able to accomplish in such a short time on the issue of vaping nicotine in our schools,” said Nikki Maurer Gray, Executive Director of the Community Health Council. “This grant will allow us to expand our model to address the use of other substances like THC and opioids while simultaneously addressing the mental health needs of our youth.”
The Community Health Council of Lebanon County expresses gratitude to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for their partnership and commitment to tackling the growing concerns of youth substance use and mental health in our community.
About the Community Health Council of Lebanon County: The Community Health Council of Lebanon County is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Lebanon County residents through education, advocacy, and collaboration. The council works to address health disparities and promote access to quality healthcare services for all members of the community.
About Lebanon Family Health Services: In July of 1973, Lebanon Family Health Services (LFHS) began its 50-year commitment to the health of the citizens in Lebanon County. The national and local landscape looked a lot different in 1973. The journey began with solely meeting the reproductive health needs of 300 women in the community. Today, LFHS provides over 50,000 visits to over 15,000 men, women, and children. In our 50 years of growth, we have become a trusted member of the local healthcare industry.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Nicole Maurer Gray
Executive Director, Community Health Council
ngray3@wellspan.org
717-270-7935
