Lexington’s 37 partner agencies will benefit from approximately $4.8 million in expanded social resource grant funding. Funding for these organizations is included in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Lexington Social Services Director Casey Allen Bryant said new this time is a separate category for mental health. She said this means they will not compete with other agencies in the community wellness category.
“But the mayor will also be able to basically put his money where his mouth is in terms of setting aside funding just for mental health because he believes that we are truly a high priority need for the community,” Allen Bryant said.
Allen Bryant noted that ESR grants are used to provide services to vulnerable citizens that are typically beyond the city’s capacity. The social services commissioner added that these nonprofits have expertise in addressing important issues. And in the area of mental health, it’s not all about treatment.
“One of the things that nonprofits do is work on the prevention side, and what we do in prevention is promote wellness, and by promoting wellness, we help stave off some of the mental health issues,” Allen Bryant said.
Allen Bryant said the behavioral impacts of the COVID pandemic are still being felt in areas such as substance use and domestic violence. The entire ESR program will also be used to support nonprofit organizations that provide access to affordable and nutritious food, early learning opportunities and healthy youth development.
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