Clinton County Commissioners Spotlight Mental Health Awareness, Community Action, and Correctional Workers During May 12 Meeting

By Emily Wright

LOCK HAVEN— At their bi-weekly work session on Monday, May 12, 2025, the Clinton County Commissioners read proclamations designating May 2025 as both Mental Health Awareness Month and Community Action Month in Clinton County. They also proclaimed the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Correctional Officers’ and Employees’ Week.

With no public comments at the start of the meeting, Commissioner Jeff Snyder began by reading Proclamation No. 9, officially recognizing National Correctional Officers’ and Employees’ Week from May 4-10, 2025. This annual observance, established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, honors the dedication and sacrifices of those working in jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities nationwide. The proclamation specifically commended the 65 employees at the Clinton County Correctional Facility (CCCF) for their commitment to providing safe, secure, and humane conditions for individuals in custody and acknowledged the essential public service they provide.

Several staff members from the CCCF attended the meeting to receive the proclamation, including Deputy Warden Sean Ruch, who expressed his appreciation to the board for the recognition and highlighted that the work of correctional staff requires dedication from all departments, including case management, supervision, training, medical, and administration.

Next, Commissioner Angela Harding read Proclamation No. 10, officially designating May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Clinton County. The proclamation put a spotlight on alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). According to the CDC and NIMH, 50% of all lifetime mental health disorders begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24. The proclamation also emphasized that suicide is the second leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14 and the third leading cause among those aged 15 to 24.

The proclamation addressed the unique challenges rural communities face in accessing mental health care, such as longer travel distances to medical facilities and limited broadband access for individuals to receive virtual mental health care from a licensed professional.

Commissioner Harding read, “A lack of mental health awareness leads to devastating impacts on the well-being of individuals and communities; suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S., and 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition.”

The proclamation stressed that the purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month in Clinton County is not only to increase public understanding of mental health issues but also to promote the identification and treatment of mental health conditions in others.

Stacy Clarke, an executive board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Central PA and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Avis, spoke following the reading of the proclamation. She shared her personal experiences with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and she emphasized the importance of fostering open conversations about mental illness.

“Normalize conversations about mental illnesses as you would other diseases, and talk openly about lived experiences with mental health challenges. Ask those who are struggling, ‘How can I help?’ They may not even know what they need but offer to go for a walk, have coffee together, and be a support so they know they aren’t alone. Encourage them for having the courage to reach out, stay the course, and persevere, and remind them that they can help others with their own story,” Clarke said.

Clarke highlighted several recent initiatives by NAMI North Central PA, including the re-establishment of a suicide prevention committee involving local stakeholders, the launch of a monthly peer support group held on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brite Laundry Center in Flemington, and ongoing presentations and training provided in various community settings.

In closing, Clarke reminded residents that help is always available. The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988, and NAMI North Central PA also provides support specifically for Clinton and Lycoming County residents. To reach the NAMI North Central PA crisis hotline, call 844-707-3224 or send a text message to 63288 to be connected with a crisis counselor. For those who prefer online support, the option to chat with a local crisis counselor is available through NAMI by visiting https://chat.988lifeline.org/.

The final proclamation on the agenda was read by Commissioner Jeff Snyder. Proclamation No. 11 of 2025 recognized May 2025 as Community Action Month in Clinton County and honored the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc. The proclamation pointed out STEP’s 59 years of service, highlighting the organization’s ongoing efforts to support individuals, families, and communities in achieving social and economic success and promoting financial stability throughout the region.

In 2024, STEP, Inc. served 19,379 customers in Clinton and Lycoming Counties—representing 12 percent of the region’s population. The organization currently provides early learning opportunities to 179 children in Clinton County through Head Start, Early Head Start, and Pre-K Counts programs, and it assisted 3,280 older adults and individuals with disabilities in maintaining independent living. With a team of 280 staff members serving both counties, STEP continues to expand its reach and services.

Rachelle Abbott, President & CEO of Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc., shared updates on the organization’s new “Find My Ride” online transportation scheduling system.

The Find My Ride Schedule is a service developed and funded by PennDOT’s Bureau of Public Transportation that offers Clinton County residents a convenient way to manage transportation needs from their smartphone, tablet, or computer. Through the Find My Ride Schedule website, users can easily schedule trips, track their driver’s estimated arrival time, view upcoming rides, and cancel trips they no longer need.

Clinton County residents can register for the service and schedule trips within the county as part of the pilot program’s first phase in partnership with PennDOT. In the second phase, the service will expand to allow for scheduling trips outside the county.

To schedule and manage trips within Clinton County, visit www.findmyridepa.org. To schedule trips outside of the county, call STEP Transportation at 570-323-7575 or email a request through the STEP, Inc. website by visiting www.stepcorp.org. Additional details and updates can be found on the STEP, Inc. Facebook page at www.facebook.com/STEPpathways.

Abbott also announced that STEP Inc. has applied for the expansion of the Substitute Aide Pool Program (SAPP), an initiative aimed at addressing local childcare staffing shortages by connecting substitute classroom aides with open positions at childcare facilities in Clinton County.

STEP, Inc. provides all necessary training, offering flexible scheduling for individuals to work up to 20 hours per week—an option especially appealing to retirees and college students, as they can choose their own shifts. Abbott reported that, so far, the program has successfully hired three substitute aides, and two childcare facilities have expressed interest in keeping their substitute aides as permanent staff.

At this time, positions are limited to childcare facilities in the Jersey Shore area until locations are established in Lock Haven and surrounding municipalities. Those interested in becoming a substitute aide can fill out an online application by visiting www.stepcorp.org and selecting the “Careers & Services” tab.