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Franklin County leaders hail mental‑health summit, introduce awards and prosecutor internship program
Summary
County officials recounted last week’s Soul Talks Empowerment Summit, announced two new awards recognizing courage and resiliency, and the prosecutor’s office introduced an expanded internship and discovery‑unit training program.
Commissioners opened their May 20 meeting by spotlighting mental‑health efforts across Franklin County, saying last week’s Soul Talks Empowerment Summit and the ribbon‑cutting of the Franklin County Crisis Center showed strong public demand for services.
A speaker at the dais announced two new honors: an Erica Crowley courage in mental health award and a John O'Grady resiliency award; the first resiliency award was presented to David Kimbrough. County officials thanked Deputy County Administrator Joy Bivens and her staff for organizing the summit and distributing a resource guide for residents.
Franklin County Prosecutor Veil Faber described an expansion of her office’s internship program and the launch of a discovery unit for evidence management. “This is an investment in our future prosecutors and our attorneys,” Faber said, noting the office welcomed eight interns who will receive immersive onboarding, court exposure and mentor pairing.
Officials urged follow‑up steps to sustain momentum from the summit, including continuing community workshops, exploring parity for mental‑health coverage, and coordinating county and partner resources so residents can more easily access medication, counseling and crisis services.
The board’s remarks and the prosecutor’s announcement set local next steps: continuing program coordination across county departments and monitoring the new discovery unit’s development over the summer.
