Kay Rupert, administrator of the county’s Children and Youth Services agency, helped draft the plan.
“There are no major changes, but the plan is still very important,” said Rupert.
The plan highlights three programs the human services department believes are assets to the county. They are the Drop in Center, PATH, and the emergency apartment.
“The Drop in Center is an important asset to many individuals,” said Megin Deitz, the program director at the center.
The center is a stigma-free community for people seeking support and guidance, the plan said.
The center allows for socialization and recreation groups, and more than 100 members of the center take advantage of daily activities, said Deitz.
The PATH program is meant to help those at risk of being evicted or homelessness. Funds for the program are provided by a PATH housing coordinator .
The plan says the program will continue to do extensive outreach.
“We want to do as much as we can to prevent people from falling through the cracks,” said Rupert.
The emergency apartment is another program with a similar goal to the PATH program. The apartment is an emergency shelter that can support an individual or a small family for up to three months.
In addition to the emergency apartment, Clarion County also has 15 emergency shelters that can create an active presence to assist in the assignment of emergency shelter, the plan states.
The plan also outlines the option for a three-day stay in a local hotel as individual situations may warrant.
Other highlights of the plan include:
– A behavioral therapy program for inmates at the county jail. The group therapy was scheduled to begin Friday and last eight weeks.
– Outpatient mental health services for all Clarion County elementary school students will be available.
– Expanded lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI) services. All county agencies are now equipped to provide resources and sensitivities.