County of Mercer Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Department

Sandy Lake Presbyterian
3461 Sandy Lake New Lebanon Rd.
11 am – 1 pm *
First Wednesday of the month
St. John’s Lutheran Church
10 Beil Hill Road, Greenville
11 am - 1 pm *
Second Thursday of the month
Reynold Drive-In Theater
3706 N Hermitage Rd.
12pm - 2 pm *
Third Friday of the month

Posted June 26, 2023

MilitaryShare, a program of the Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County, provides fresh, nutritious foods for veterans and military families in need.

For your privacy and convenience, food distributions take place at designated sites throughout Mercer County.

For information contact Bailey Shepard at 724-981-0353 ext. 105

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to unpaid, job-protected leave to provide care for a family member, including:

• Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition or for any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
• Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).

Posted November 6, 2023

Mercer County Suicide Prevention Network collaborates with our community to reduce the risk of suicide through education, advocacy and support.

In Person 3rd Sunday of Every Month
226 West State Street, Sharon, PA 16146
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Posted October 2023

Posted December 2023

Posted December 2023

Posted December 2023

Posted January 24, 2024

Extra help is a program that covers Medicare drug coverage (Part D) costs for people who have limited income and resources. If you qualify for Extra Help, you’ll pay:

• $0 for your Medicare drug plan premium and deductible.
• A reduced amount for both generic and brand-name drugs.

You might qualify for Extra Help if:

• You live in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
• Your annual income is below $21,870 for an individual, or $29,580 for a married couple.
• Your resources are below $16,600 for an individual, or $33,240 for a married couple.

Posted January 24, 2024

Learn about and earn certificates in:

• Social Media
• Information literacy
• Career Search Skills
• Accessing Telehealth Appointments
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Using Email
• and more!

Earn $25 for passing a proctored assessment!
Sign up by emailing Dawn Gregory at dgregory@wcjp.org or call 724-347-7855 x303

Posted February 5, 2024

West Central Job Partnership provides a program for Older Youth that is a year-round work readiness training program for out of school youth who have graduated from high school or youth who need to obtain a GED®. Eligible youth who are seeking tuition assistance are also enrolled continuously throughout the year. Bonus incentives are available for completion of program activities.

Posted February 5, 2024

Secure, Safe, and stable housing is vital to helping all people thrive no matter their circumstances. By looking at the intersections of Housing, Disability, and the Medicaid Waiver System we can promote awareness and education ultimately expanding choice and control in housing for all people with Intellectual Disabilities.
We will be using the information gathered from this survey to build content for our program “Housing Myth Busting”. The program’s goal is to provide accurate information that shows people with disabilities and their families that there are viable options which provide choice and control outside of residential settings.

"Sources of Strength is the first suicide prevention program involving peer leaders to enhance protective factors associated with reducing suicide at the school population level." - American Journal of Public Health

Sources of Strength is the only evidence-based model that engages youth as peer leaders, and school staff as adult allies in the implementation of intentional campaigns to foster belonging, hope, and connection. Rather than a focus on reducing negative outcomes, SOS focuses on building desired states of being.

Sources of Strength employs a radically strength-based approach to suicide prevention. Moving beyond a primary focus on risk factors and warning signs, Sources of Strength focuses on developing protective factors, using a model that is innovative and interactive.

Are you between the ages of 18-24, out of school and currently ( or previously) involved with the justice system? Our Youth Reentry Program Offers:

• Paid Work Experiences
  
• Assistance with Obtaining GED
• On the Job Training
• Post-Secondary Training
• Other supportive services as needed
• Earn incentives for participating
  

This document was created to help Representative Payees understand how to open and manage PA ABLE accounts. For additional information, visit paable.gov and ssi.gov/payee.

A PA ABLE account gives individuals with qualified disabilities (Eligible Individuals), and their families and friends, a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses, while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts.

You are in high school now… OVR is your next step to meet your current or future job goals! OVR’s Pre-employment Transition Services are for students with disabilities. No application needed!

Positive behavior support (PBS) helps individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD) achieve the highest quality of life possible. PBS has four key qualities that all professionals engaged in providing these supports should follow: inclusion, choice, participation, and quality of opportunity.
By working to provide your clients with these values, you can help them gain a greater quality and enjoyment of life.

Caregivers are unsung heroes. This becomes especially true for those who carry out their duties before, during, and in the immediate aftermath of tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other extreme weather events. People with disabilities or other access and function needs, such as older adults, face a disproportionately higher likelihood of abandonment, additional injury, and death during disasters.
When forced to evacuate, relocate to emergency shelters, or find temporary housing, care recipients and caregivers require support and services that meet them where they are and account for unmet needs. FEMA is pleased to announce The Disaster Preparedness Guide for Caregivers, a new guide that focuses on the lived experience of caregivers who often serve as a lifeline for others, whether the skies are blue or gray.
There are three essential steps that can help caregivers feel more prepared and in control when disaster strikes:
Assessing needs - Preparedness starts with considering the many tasks a caregiver performs as a matter of routine, such as hygiene care, meal preparation, routine medical assistance, and prescription drug management.
Engaging a support network - Caregivers also need care. Thinking through access to systems of support, especially if displaced, and the stress of keeping a care recipient safe and healthy are important.
Creating a plan - Recovering from a disaster begins with seeing preparedness as the first response to a disaster. By making an emergency plan, tracking alerts and updates, and keeping a checklist of everything a care recipient would need in the event a disaster disrupts the daily routine, caregivers become the true “first” responder.

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (also known as OVR) is a state agency within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. OVR serves people with disabilities that present a substantial impediment to their employment. Employment related services are provided to individuals who can benefit from and who need assistance to prepare for, enter into, engage in, or retain competitive employment.

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) serves people who have disabilities that present a substantial impediment to employment. Services are provided to individuals to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in or regain employment. OVR has 21 District Offices located around the state. Our counselors work every year with thousands of persons who have physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
For more information about services, call or write the OVR District Office listed on the back of this brochure that is nearest to where you live.

The Professional Connections Foundation (PCF) is a program created by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) with the goal of providing high school students with disabilities the opportunity to build a foundation of important work skills.

The Professional Connections Experience (PCE) is a summer program created by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) with the goal of providing high school students with disabilities the opportunity to learn important work skills and connect them to jobs in the community.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefits administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that also provide Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to eligible children and adults. The application process for SSI/SSDI is complicated and difficult to navigate. Nationally, about 30 percent of adults who apply for these benefits are approved on initial application and appeals take an average of 1 year to complete.
For people who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons, or hospitals), access to these programs can be extremely challenging. Approval on initial application for people who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness and who have no one to assist them is about 10-15 percent. For those who have a serious mental illness, substance use issues, or co-occurring disorders that impair cognition, the application process is even more difficult – yet accessing these benefits is often a critical first step in building resiliency and supporting recovery.

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers provides a first-ever roadmap to improve access to information, services, and resources for family caregivers of all ages — from youth to grandparents. The National Strategy was presented to the U.S. Congress in 2022. Although the National Strategy alone will not create or expand services, and additional work
is needed to increase access to resources, many resources are currently available. This guide presents a “how to” for family caregivers to learn about some of the existing resources that align with the areas of focus outlined in the National Strategy.

Members of the intellectual disability and/or autism (ID/A) community may be more affected by the negative effects of disasters. I-PREPARE helps individuals prepare for a disaster and assists those affected by disasters.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) offers an on-line training called I-PREPARE on the AIDinPA website.

More information can be found in the Emergency Preparedness Resource Collection. For questions or for more information regarding I-PREPARE, contact:

Daniel Miller
Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator
PA DHS Office of Developmental Programs
(717) 856-8677
danielm@pa.gov

Click here to view Flyer

Charlie Health Family Programming invites you to our free open Family Support Groups. Free and open to the public. Please use the QR code to register for groups like:

• Parents & Caregivers of Adolescents
• Parents & Caregivers of Young Adults
• Parents & Caregivers of LGBTQIA+
• Families of Color
• El Grupo de Cuidadores en Espanol (Spanish­ speaking only)
• Neurodivergence and Your Family
• Allies of Young Adults

We invite any member of the public to join us for a series of FREE mental health support groups.

• ATHLETE SUPPORT GROUP
  2nd and 4th Wednesday
  7 PM ET
  
• SUICIDE SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUP
  1st and 3rd Friday
  7 PM ET
  
• LGBTQIA+ 101 FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
  1st Tuesday
  9 PM ET
  
• CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP
  Every Monday
  8 PM ET
  
• PROVIDER SUPPORT GROUP
  Every other Friday
  2 PM ET

This free and open group is for friends and family members of people who are struggling with addiction. Please come to share and receive support and information in a meeting that is facilitated by our trained counselors.

Every 4th Wednesday of the month
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

THIRD Tuesday of the month
Mercer Area Library
110 E Venango St, Mercer, PA 16137
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide? Facilitators are peers who have been trained to help those with a loss by suicide and want to help others cope with the loss of loved ones.

THIRD Tuesday of the month
195 W. Connelly Blvd.
Sharon, PA 16146
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide? Facilitators are peers who have been trained to help those with a loss by suicide and want to help others cope with the loss of loved ones.

In Person 1st Sunday of Every Month
226 West State Street, Sharon, PA 16146
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Posted May 20, 2024

Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU IV) Local Task Force is composed of parents, agencies, and
district representatives that assist in improving education for all school-age children with autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment. The Local Task Force makes recommendations to improve, strengthen, expand and monitor programs and services; speaks on behalf of special education students; and communicates their
needs, problems and concerns to schools and other agencies providing special education programs.

Posted May 20, 2024

The Right to Education Local Task Force was formed to represent the needs and interests of students with intellectual disabilities and their families on the local level. Today, most LTFs have expanded their efforts to include all students with disabilities. All LTF meetings are open to parents, agency providers, and school professionals who are concerned about the education of students with disabilities. This is a special education support group for parents by parents, serving Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties.

Posted May 20, 2024
5 Mercer Avenue, Wheatland, PA 16161
Every Moday at 4:00 PM

Are you feeling pressured by parents, friends, and others? SMART Recovery is a self-help program that offers a place where teens ages 13 - 17 can get together to try to look into and change behaviors that hurts themselves and others like smoking, drinking, fighting and using drugs, to name a few.

For more information and meeting schedule, call Traci Gregory @ (866) 961-2239 ext. 7

Posted May 20, 2024
5 Mercer Avenue, Wheatland, PA 16161
Every Moday at 4:00 PM

Are you feeling pressured by parents, friends, and others? SMART Recovery is a self-help program that offers a place where teens ages 13 - 17 can get together to try to look into and change behaviors that hurts themselves and others like smoking, drinking, fighting and using drugs, to name a few.

For more information and meeting schedule, call Traci Gregory @ (866) 961-2239 ext. 7

Posted May 20, 2024

Don’t just live. Live well.
Welleful is a health and wellness coaching business dedicated to helping individuals reach their full health potential through one-on-one coaching, group education, and health and wellness activities.

For more information:
(724) 815-8715
www.welleful.com
welleful@gmail.com

Posted May 20, 2024

Just SO Speech Services is a new program for consumers with Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP.) A licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) can work with your team to:

• Assess communication
• Recommend communication focus
• Select and set up a communication device
• Write reports for funding
• Plan communication supports
• Teach strategies
• Troubleshoot

For more information:
https://aaccommunity.net/so-speech-odp/
1-800-204-7428
techowl@temple.edu

Posted May 20, 2024

Posted June 4, 2024

The Uniquely Abled Academy (UAA) is ideal for neurodivergent young adults, and others who would benefit from the extra support the program provides. The UAA team will help you determine if it’s the right fit for you and will be a resource throughout your training.
Working in manufacturing, including as an operator of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment, requires a high degree of focused attention to detail and following clear instructions and processes. CNC equipment is used to shape and cut materials as part of the manufacturing process. The manufacturing industry currently is in short supply of CNC operators, and you can be part of a vital talent pipeline!

Instruction Period: September 2024 - February 2025 Enroll Now! Space is limited.

Posted June 4, 2024

Posted June 4, 2024

Are you in need of a peer who is understanding and accepting of you? Rainbow Peer Project will begin accepting LGBTQIA+ individuals for telehealth peer services throughout the state in 2025.
Are you a peer who wants to become a Rainbow Peer? Training will begin in the Fall of 2024.

Visit https:/ /pmhca.wildapricot.org/rpp for more information

Posted June 4, 2024

If your child experiences a mental health crisis where there is concern for their safety or the safety of others, they may need a short stay in the hospital. This level of care, or inpatient hospitalization, has a primary goal of safety, and the care team at the hospital will work to help resolve the immediate crisis by stabilizing your child’s symptoms.
It is understandable to think or hope that this will be the only step that your child will need to be mentally healthy. However, this may just be the first step in their journey, and you may have already tried other treatment strategies that led your child here. Ongoing supports will likely be needed for your child’s long-term mental health care.

Posted June 4, 2024

As a parent, you know your child best. There may be a time when you sense something different and worrisome about your child’s behavior or someone tells you that your child has mentioned ending their life. Take these concerns seriously and have a conversation with your child. Disregard anyone saying you are overreacting, or your child just wants attention. Having the conversation may be scary, but it is important.

• Ask a direct question "Are you thinking about suicide" - don't beat around the bush
• Keep your tone conversational rather than confrontational.
• Avoid trying to “fix” the problem
• Reach out for Help - Call 988
  • the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text that number 24/7. You will be connected to trained crisis counselors who can provide support and resources for free.
    
    

Posted July 3, 2024

Depression is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults. Recent CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance data indicated that among adults age 50 or older, 7.7% reported current depression and 15.7% reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression.

Depression is associated with distress and suffering and can lead to impairments in physical, mental, and social functioning. The presence of depressive disorders often adversely affects the course and complicates the treatment of other chronic diseases - a particular concern among older adults given the high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions in this age group.

Posted September 18, 2024

The Career Guide is split into four different sections and you can view these sections by looking for the colored border on each page. It starts out with assessing your interests and then matching your results to some potential occupations (Occupational Data Bank) that may be a good fit. The next section will help you explore some post-secondary options. Whether you’re looking to go to a four-year college, career & technical school, start an apprenticeship, or enter the military, this section has everything you need to explore multiple options after high school.

Posted December 4, 2024

Children build media habits and preferences from a very
young age, so it’s worthwhile to set them up for a healthy
relationship with media before they grow into teens
and young adults. The following practical strategies are ways to build balance, critical thinking, self-regulation, and safety skills for toddlers through elementary school-aged children.

Posted December 4, 2024

The TECH Program (Teaching E-Commerce & Computers to the Homeless) is a Shenango Valley Urban League workforce development program employing individuals ages 18 up to 24 who are homeless based on HUD's four categories of homelessness. The TECH Program provides e-commerce and computer skills education in addition to paid work experience that will help make program participants more employable and job ready. This program has a goal of taking program participants from homeless to housed. Every snack box purchased helps each homeless participant get one step closer to securing gainful employment, attaining affordable housing, and achieving self-sufficiency.

Posted December 4, 2024

Having conversations with tweens and teens about technology and digital media can be challenging. For busy families, it can feel hard to find the right moment, or to say the right things. This resource provides ideas and examples that you, as parents and guardians,
can use to frame conversations with your tweens and teens around common scenarios involving technology, social media, and video games. It is intended for use with tweens and teens who already are engaged with technology and digital media.

Posted December 4, 2024

First Baptist Church
301 West State St. Sharon,Pa 16146
TEENS 6:30-8:00pm 3rd Tuesday of every month
ADULTS 6:30-8:00pm 3rd Monday of every month

ROAR Center
912 East State St. Sharon,Pa 16146
TEENS 6:30-8:00pm 3rd Thursday of every month
ADULTS 6:30-8:00pm 3rd Wednesday of every month

Common Grounds Mercer Coffeehouse & Cafe
114 N. Pitt St. Mercer, Pa 16137
TEENS 4:00-5:30 pm 2nd Wednesday of every month
ADULTS 6:00-7:30 pm 2nd Wednesday of every month

At Joe's Place, we provide a safe and supportive environment for teens ages 13-17 and adults to find
compassion, understanding, and support as they navigate the loss of a loved one due to drugs or alcohol.
Our mission is to foster a community where individuals can connect, share their experiences, and access
resources that promote healing and hope without feeling stigmatized.

Posted December 5, 2024
3rd floor of the Meadville Public Library
848 N. Main St., Meadville, PA
2nd Friday of the month from 9 am - 11 am
4th Thursday of the month from 5 pm - 7 pm

Confused and overwhelmed while trying to navigate child and family serving systems? Need help understanding what it all means? If you are involved in any of the following systems don't hesitate to reach out for support.

Posted December 5, 2024

Posted January 6, 2025

Shenango Valley Pride Alliance aims to reduce social isolation among LGBTQIA+ folks in and around Western Pennsylvania through ongoing community building,
events, access to mental health resources, and education.

Come visit us:
87 Stambaugh Ave, Sharon, PA
724-456-2059
www.svpridepicnic.org
SVPridePicnic@gmail.com

Posted December 5, 2024

FOR HELP CALL 724-662-2230 or visit www.mercercountybhc.org

Posted December 6, 2024

Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
118 Locust Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

Are you facing a utility shutoff?
Pennsylvania residents may be eligible for free help.

Search for your local legal aid program: https://palegalaid.net/legal-aid-providers-in-pa
Or, call our toll-free hotline at
1-844-645-2500
or email us at
utilityhotline@pautilitylawproject.org

Posted December 6, 2024

Opens November 4, 2024
Closes April 4, 2025
About LIHEAP

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) can help you keep your home warm and safe during the coldest seasons. From November 4, 2024, to April 4, 2025, you can apply for a cash grant to help pay your heating bill. You can receive from $200 to $1,000 based on your household size, income, and fuel type.
The cash grant is a one-time payment. The grant will be sent directly to your utility provider or fuel company to be credited on your bill.

Are you experiencing an emergency related to your household’s heat? You may be eligible to receive additional funds through a crisis grant.

Apply: 1-866-857-7095
https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov

Posted December 6, 2024

Medicaid (also called Medical Assistance) is a complicated program. To be eligible for Medicaid, a person must fit into a Medicaid eligibility category and meet the income and resource limits for that category. Examples of Medicaid categories include children, children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, pregnant women, and older adults.

Before a child turns 18, it is helpful for them and their families to know what category of Medicaid eligibility the child is in. This is important to know because that category may end at the age of 18. To find out what category of Medicaid you are in, call your County Assistance Office (CAO) caseworker or the Department of Human Services' Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930. In Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226.