CANFIELD, Ohio – The Mahoning County Career & Technical Center will develop a 13,000-square-foot Health and Wellness Center with grant funding from the Appalachian Community Innovation Center. 

The new center will be located on the grounds of MCCTC and will be designed to enhance health care access, workforce development and educational opportunities for students, staff and the greater Mahoning Valley community.

The project aims to provide comprehensive medical and mental health services through strategic partnerships with Mercy Health and Cadence Care Network. Mercy Health will staff the facility with on-site health care professionals to provide primary and preventive care for students and community members.

Cadence Care Network will offer professional mental  health counseling and behavioral health services, addressing the growing need for mental wellness support among students and families.

“The funding for this center represents a major investment in the health and future of our students, staff and larger community,” said John Zehentbauer, MCCTC superintendent. “By partnering with Mercy Health and Cadence Care Network, we are ensuring that both physical and mental health services are accessible, removing barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking care.”

Dr. Jim Kravec, chief clinical officer of Mercy Health Lorain and Youngstown, said “Mercy Health is excited” to partner with MCCTC on the project.

“Primary care is the front door to health care and is essential to overall health and well-being. … This practice will be open to the public, providing this level of care for MCCTC students and staff, as well as members of the community,” Kravec said. “It will also offer walk-in care, which means patients can walk into the practice and be seen by a primary care physician the same day, with no appointment.”

Matt Kresic, CEO at Cadence Care Network, is excited about the opportunity to build on the network’s relationship with MCCTC by opening behavioral health services to the broader MCCTC community. 

“Our staff will now have a state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to meet students’ behavioral health needs after traditional school hours,” he said.

A groundbreaking ceremony is set for April 30 to celebrate the launch of the project. Event details will be announced.

Pictured at top: A conceptual drawing of the Health and Wellness Center.