Family Resource Center works to grow mental health access in northwest Ohio

FINDLAY, Ohio — If you need mental health services but find yourself unable to pay, you might have to put treatment on the back burner.

"When it comes to their ability to pay, some people are not qualified for the funding sources that are out there," said John Bindas, the CEO of the Family Resource Center.

That is, until now.

"We have an opportunity to use that funding to get services to those people that kind of just don't fit the mold of the funding structure."

Now those in need of services can receive them, even if they can’t pay, something the center saw in many clients.

“It puts them in a self-pay situation and sometimes with inflation and everything that’s going on, it can’t be done," Bindas said.

The reason the Family Resource Center can break these barriers to resources is because of a grant given to the center.

"We know that mental health impacts many people, I would venture to say most people, and so having that access and making sure that financial reasons isn't something that's stopping someone from seeking the additional support, is really important," said Maggie Brown, the Family Resource Center CCBHC program director.

This new grant also allows clients who are in need and not located in Findlay to come to the center to receive support.

It's a cutting-edge process as the center will be able to help more people access service, according to Bindas.

The group received the first grant back in 2020 and is only one of two cities in Ohio to receive this extension grant.

"Things that come along with this project is ensuring that we're providing evidence-based treatments," Brown said. "The types of services and treatments we’re providing have been evaluated and researched to make sure that they have that maximum effectiveness for the folks that serve."

After receiving the first grant, the Family Resource Center felt there wasn't enough time to see the success they knew could happen. Now with the new grant, they hope to continue breaking barriers and helping more people in need.

"Mental health services are definitely stigmatized and so by improving access I think that increases the number that are, the number of folks that are receiving services and as more individuals receive services, I think that in of itself helps break those stigmas."

The Family Resource Center will have this grant for the next four years allowing them to grow mental health access in northwest Ohio.