FRC grant will expand mental health services

Family Resource Center is creating a new clinic with the hopes that, thanks to a grant, they'll be able to get mental health care to people who previously couldn't afford it. Family Resource Center was awarded a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Findlay nonprofit agency is calling the project FRC-CARES, and the goal is to serve 1,000 individuals over two years, using the Recovery-Oriented System of Care approach. Rick Lofgren, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic project director, said the two-year, $4 million grant is intended to help the agency uplift its infrastructure, to better care for clients. The grant allows the agency to upgrade its technology, for example, and expand telehealth services. Lofgren said that, through the grant, they cannot turn clients away because of inability to pay for care, and they can use some of the grant money to pay for services to these clients. (Family Resource Center is considered a payer of last resort, he said. So staff will first look to see if there are other sources of payment, such as insurance or funding through the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board, but the agency has money available in case this doesn't work out.) He said people often worry that mental health care will be too expensive, and the hope is that the grant will allow more people to get the care they need. Family Resource Center hopes to reach people who have never come in for services before. "Now is the time" to seek support if you need it, as there are resources available, Lofgren said. "Don't wait," as your mental health is very important to your overall health, he said. Also as part of the grant, Family Resource Center staff are meeting with leaders from communities outside of Findlay, with the goal of serving all of Hancock County. The endeavor looks at integrated health including all aspects of health, Lofgren said. For example, mental health professionals at Family Resource Center might connect their clients with Blanchard Valley Health System if they need primary care. Family Resource Center has been creating a new satellite office in The Family Center on North Blanchard Street, where a variety of other nonprofits are located. Lofgren noted that they're near the Caughman Clinic, which will allow staff to literally walk a client down the hall who needs to go from one agency to another.