Mercer County schools will benefit from a $150,000 grant partially funding the salaries of two mental health case managers.
The funds come from the LooserFlake Charitable Foundation, which is a private non-profit administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation.
Jennifer Hammerlinck is director of the Mercer County Health Department’s Mental Health Action Program and says this program is “fully sustainable until 2024” and that’s largely thanks to the Looser-Flake Foundation.
The grant will be awarded over three years with a case manager in each of the Mercer County and Sherrard districts.
Hammerlinck says mental health services in places like Mercer County are in particular need right now.
Mercer is considered a health professional shortage area with only one mental health provider for every 7,800 residents.
That points to a large proportion of children that have mental health problems, need care but don’t have the resources available.
Earlier this month, Looser-Flake awarded nearly $200,000 to the same districts for educational technology projects.
