Grant awarded to local groups

St. Joseph County was chosen for a pilot program through the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards.
The group was recently awarded a $4.2 million grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support 12 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health for seniors.
According to officials from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County, Area Agency on Aging, Commission on Aging and CMH have formed a partnership to be the funded pilot site.
The grant dollars will help fund Senior Reach over the next two years to connect seniors who are isolated and to address behavioral health needs before a crisis occurs.
Senior Reach is a community program that works with multiple community partners to identify older adults who may need emotional or physical support and/or connection to other community services.
The program is a service-based intervention targeting older adults experiencing problematic mental and emotional states; personality and physical changes; poor health; social isolation; substance abuse; physical abuse or neglect; and risk factors for suicide.