Sheriff: 'It's time we look at the youth'

Representatives of law enforcement, courts, mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies, schools and many more came together Thursday night with one message: They are here, working together, to support the youths of Hancock County and their parents. Sheriff Michael Heldman has held events similar to the "Avoid the Risk: Youth Are the Future" event — co-hosted by the Hancock County Sheriff's Office and the Hancock County Opioid and Addictions Task Force — but not in the past couple of years due to the pandemic. This year, he thought, "it's time we look at the youth," as he has been hearing a lot from school resource officers and the juvenile court about alcohol and drug use being concerns. Heldman advised parents to not be afraid to talk with their children, and to call law enforcement for advice. He said officers would rather concerned parents and guardians reach out proactively, rather than wait until things have reached a crisis point. Hancock County Probate/Juvenile Judge Kristen Johnson, too, said her court often sees youths who are charged at age 12 or 13 but have been having issues since they were far younger. The courts would also prefer to address the situation much earlier, and she urged people to call her office if they need to talk anything through. "We really don't want kids to suffer for years," she said. Juvenile delinquency is down in Hancock County, Johnson said. Last year, 58 Hancock County juveniles were charged with drug offenses. The majority of youths tested for drugs test negative, but when they do test positive, "without question" it's most often for marijuana, Johnson said. She said youths "almost exclusively" vape marijuana as opposed to tobacco, and she urged parents to check their children's rooms for vapes, which they can easily get in school. She advised parents who use illegal drugs themselves and think their children don't know, "You are fooling yourself. Kids know." Johnson also encouraged separated or divorced parents to put their own differences aside and "get on the same page" with regard to their child. She noted that many children are experiencing anxiety and are self-medicating with marijuana. "Anxiety is huge," agreed Stefan Adams, the whole child counselor for Findlay City Schools. Adams said many students also simply "do not know where they fit" and are seeking a sense of belonging. He said his work involves trying to build resiliency in youths. The job is "larger than just myself" and involves a lot of family and community partnerships, as well as sharing the resources that are available in the community. Chris Biltz, prevention specialist at Family Resource Center, said his team uses the "Youth Thrive" model, which is grounded in both protective and promotive factors — protecting against what is harmful and also promoting positive well-being. Adolescent development involves not just the physical changes of puberty, but also children growing into their own identity and growing "as a holistic person," he said. "Don't stop here," he urged those attending Thursday's event, but instead "build on this" and continue to talk with your children. Nurse navigator Jennifer Loera explained the Maternal Opiate Medical Support (MOMS) program, which assists pregnant women who are addicted to opiates. Women in the program must engage in obstetric health care, as well as mental health and medication-assisted treatment services, Loera said. They receive support from one another and from professionals, attend educational programs and go on outings together. In the four years the program has been in existence, it has touched the lives of 219 Hancock County children, Loera said. And the 16 women currently in the program have, between them, 9,153 days of sobriety. That's more than 25 years. One of the women who had been through the MOMS program for two pregnancies, and now has nearly two years clean, told her own story. It began with being around drugs from early childhood, as her parents also used and would use with her. She said she had made many attempts to get sober but, through MOMS, "became the person and mom I always wanted to be. … I love who I am today." The audience rose to its feet to give her a standing ovation. A resource fair was held prior to the event, with about a dozen local agencies offering information about their services. Agencies represented included Welcome to A New Life, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hancock County, Hancock Public Health, Hancock County Job and Family Services, A Renewed Mind, Family Resource Center, Findlay Treatment Services, Narcotics Anonymous, Focus, City Mission of Findlay and Children's Mentoring Connection of Hancock County. "Everybody that you've seen today is here to help you," said Eric McKee, executive director of NAMI. Arthurs: 419-427-8494