Eastern leadership was recently a part of a group community effort at the Blakeslee Center in Middleport for the Meigs County community roundtable on March 21, the second in a series of such conversations the Coalition will conduct across the region. The Coalition was pleased to welcome over 25 key stakeholders to engage in a conversation around the challenges, successes, and needs for youth and those supporting them in the area of behavioral and mental health care. Randy Leite, executive director, facilitated the conversation and highlighted how ACC plans to work with supporting agencies and partners with increased workforce development, school-based health programs, crisis care, and other vital areas.
On March 30, the Appalachian Children Coalition hosted its Appalachian Child Investment Brunch at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. With support from Sunday Creek Horizons, 80 state representatives, state senators, legislative staff, and regional stakeholders were able to learn about shovel-ready projects primed for investment. The coalition has recommended an investment of $30 million of American Rescue Plan funds with partnerships and detailed project plans already in place.
The event included a briefing session featuring regional leaders who explained the unique disparities they see daily in their professional roles that threaten the wellbeing of the Appalachian child. The panel included Tina Husted, Robin Burrow, Tom Davis, Steve Evans, Stephanie Starcher, Misty Cromwell, Jenny Stotts, Lisa Ward, Sam Schaffer, and Marsha Lewis. Panelists spoke on personal and professional experiences in areas addressing school based health services, crisis stabilization in the region, the growing need for workforce development, and current efforts to provide more comprehensive research and data to support state decision making. These individuals represented the issues that impact all of Appalachian Ohio’s schools, foster care services, CASA/GAL programs, and regional behavioral health offerings