YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – New projects, programs and partnerships allowed Alta Care Group to meet unprecedented needs for social, emotional and behavioral health care in the community.
One of its biggest undertakings was opening the Center for Mental Health and Wellness at the Mahoning Valley Campus of Care and the planned expansion of school-based services, says CEO Joe Shorokey.
“We see Trumbull County as the next phase of growth for Alta Care Group and fulfilling our mission to create a healthier Mahoning Valley,” Shorokey says.
A collaboration with the Boardman Glenwood Junior High School BRYT Classroom led to a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ohio to assist students returning from acute care or partial hospitalization, as well as those identified by school staff as having academic functioning impairments caused by an acute mental health crisis.
As an academic coordinator from the school works closely with teachers and staff to collect and condense work missed by the student, a clinical coordinator from Alta checks in weekly with the student and his family and connects them with community resources that provide counseling.
“Partnerships like these play an important role in the success of behavioral health care by widening our community reach,” Shorokey says.
Other partnerships include developing a second kitchen with Flying High Inc. and Yo Fresh Food at the Mahoning Valley Campus of Care, a public service ad campaign with the Mental Health and Recovery Boards of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and sponsoring the YMCA’s first Youth and Teen Night.
New for 2022 is an LGBTQ+ group for adolescents, a therapy program to help stabilize youth and families who might be at risk for involvement in the child welfare system, and an after-school program at Alta’s Center for Mental Health and Wellness.