I would like to thank all the Seneca County taxpayers for making a difference in the lives of children, families and our communities. You have helped overwhelmed, hurting children and families to become stable and have better lives. In the past four years, the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board has used part of the levy funds to support the Wraparound program. In this time, I have personally witnessed your tax dollars helping more than 80 families and more than 200 children throughout the county.
Wraparound coordination is a strength-based, family-centered process based on the family's unique strengths and needs. It incorporates the strengths, values and needs of the children and family to create a plan of stability and hope. The process assesses 13 life domains and builds a team of support to continuously work with the family. Families who have utilized wraparound may have: a child at risk; a child returning home from an out-of-home placement; a child who is pregnant or already a parent; multi-agency involvement; limited resources; homelessness; mental health and/or behavioral concerns; drug/alcohol issues or others with which the family is clearly overwhelmed and doesn't know where to turn.
Working with families to avoid out-of-home placements have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings for Seneca County. In addition to cost savings, families have gained family stability, improved mental health, improved communication, obtained GEDs or started college, gained employment, obtained reunification, gained social supports, experienced a reduction is stressors, improved budgeting skills, improved behaviors, improved school grades, etc.
If you or someone you know is in need of Wraparound services or would like more information, please call (419) 443-0981.
Wraparound is only one of the many services to Seneca County residents supported by levy funds. Please join me in voting "yes" Nov. 6 to continue the levy for the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board. You can continue to make the difference in the lives of children and families.
Connie Maksemetz,
Wraparound coordinator,
Seneca County Family & Children First
