Summit County is taking significant steps to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the region. During a recent Board of Health meeting, officials discussed the urgent need to backfill positions as existing professionals retire. The conversation highlighted the various credentials required for individuals entering the mental health field, with Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) being the most common certification. The state recognizes 12 different certifications, including roles for case managers and peer support specialists, who are essential in maintaining engagement with clients, particularly within the Spanish-speaking community.

To combat the workforce gap, the Board is developing two scholarship programs aimed at supporting native Spanish speakers from Summit County. These scholarships will cover costs for students during their junior and senior years of college and their internships in the county. In exchange, graduates will commit to working with local nonprofits or within the public system for three to five years after obtaining their licensure.

Additionally, the Board addressed the current limitations of the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), which operates only during business hours, five days a week. Plans are underway to transition to a firehouse model, allowing for a team to be on duty for 24 hours at a time, alternating between five days on and five days off. This change aims to enhance the availability of crisis services, although it raises questions about whether to secure staff or housing first.

As the county pushes forward with these initiatives, including promoting the 988 crisis hotline, the focus remains on building a robust mental health support system that can effectively serve the community's needs.