County considers mental health grant for Commonwealth University-Lock Haven

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Commissioners are in the process of how to make use of a $100,000 PA Rural Health grant and indications are that a portion of that money will go for a mental health training program for faculty, staff and students at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven.

Jessica Abernathy, COVID-19 Response and Transition Coordinator at the local university, explained the proposed use for some $17,000 of the grant money at the county commissioners’ Monday work session. She said the university seeks to establish a licensing agreement with Cognito, a provider of mental health training and awareness.

Abernathy said of the program, “It allows students, faculty and staff members to have the open dialogue about mental health and mental health awareness without putting themselves directly out there. They can do this in the privacy of their dorm rooms.”

County commissioner Angela Harding, who serves on a committee to disseminate the $100,000 grant, said the agreement for the local university program, will be on the commissioners’ agenda for Thursday’s voting session.

According to information on Monday, the Keystone Central School District has also developed plans for use of a portion of the grant money. Other program recipients are expected to be the Bucktail Medical Center, the county Department of Emergency Services and the Clinton County Housing Authority, all represented on the dispersal committee.