May 25, 2022
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Stamp out the stigma.
It’s a sentiment that the county has adopted to help people understand that there is no shame or embarrassment in seeking out mental health services.
Isolation, lack of support networks and the challenging times brought on by the pandemic and a tough economy have left us all anxious, a bit off-kilter or worse.
While striving toward emotional well-being is a continuing pursuit, the county is highlighting the services that are available during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, so that any county resident can access the help they need. This week, I joined many Oakland County employees for a “Small Steps, Huge Strides” walk around the government campus in Pontiac that not only gave us all some exercise but also helped us join a movement to acknowledge, recognize, understand and accept the need for mental health services.
Healthy residents, both physically and mentally, is one of the key seven goals in the county’s five-year roadmap. To help achieve that goal, we’ve invested more than $10 million in federal COVID-relief funding to add and improve access to mental health services. Nearly $8 million of that money went to 41 non-profit organizations that specialize in providing such services.
In the first quarter after the grants were awarded, nearly 5,000 people across all age groups and from nearly every Oakland County community accessed mental health services.
They ranged from:
- A woman and her children getting out of an abusive relationship and thriving after receiving therapy through HAVEN.
- Multiple residents who went through trauma therapy through Hope Against Trafficking. One client said, “I am moving from victim to survivor.”
- A young student who was too anxious to go to school unless her mother was there with her until she was assigned a social worker from Jewish Family Services. The intervention has allowed the student to attend school all day without her mother.
- After therapy sessions to identify and address depression and self-harming behavior, a client of Centro Multicultural La Familia began to see improved academic performance, a cooperative and engaged alliance with counselors and a better sense of self-confidence.
In all, the grants are expected to help 66,000 residents, who will be able to treat their mental health the same way physical health is treated – as a necessary and vital tool toward becoming healthier people.
Learn more about the Oakland Together Mental Health and Wellbeing Non-Profit Grant program.
In good health,
David Coulter
Oakland County Executive
Service highlight of the week
Oakland County’s Neighborhood and Housing Development Department offers a variety of services, including counseling for people looking to buy or stay in their homes.
Informational and counseling sessions were conducted on reverse mortgages, what to know before buying a home, resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency or default, home maintenance, financial management and rental topics.
The housing counseling staff has the specialized knowledge and certifications needed to counsel community members on ANY housing topic.
Last year, nearly 1,700 conversations were conducted on tenant issues such as; past due rent, eviction, tenant rights, homebuyer education, homelessness, and the availability of subsidized and affordable housing.
 Oakland County extends free rabies vaccines through June
The Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center is extending its offer of free rabies vaccines for dogs through June.
The offer is for people who bring their pets to the shelter, 1200 North Telegraph, building 42E in Pontiac, between the hours of 9 and 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays in May and June and who purchase a current dog license. All delinquent license fees will be waived for people who have been tardy in buying pet licenses. No appointment is necessary.
A dog license is $15 for one year or $40 for three years for dogs that are spayed or neutered. For a dog that is not spayed or neutered, the license fee is $25 for one year or $70 for three years. After June 1, dog license fees rise to $40 for a spayed or neutered dog for one year, $55 for a spayed or neutered dog for three years, and $85 for a non-spayed or unneutered dog for three years.
For more information, go to oakgov.com/petadoption or call 248-858-1070.
County receives 11 awards from NACo
Oakland County was recognized with 11 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties for 2022, including four for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
NACo recognized Oakland County for its:
- 2020-2021 Oakland Together School Nurse Initiative, where the Oakland County Health Division hired public health nurses to serve in local school districts to address COVID-19-related concerns
- Save Your Spot online COVID-19 vaccine scheduler for residents to indicate their interest in getting vaccinated with more than 600,000 registrations
- One-by-One multi-faceted public education campaign that encouraged hope and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution plan which helped get PPE to thousands of first responders and front-line workers who responded daily to residents in the county's 62 cities, villages and townships.
Other departments to receive recognition:
- The County Clerk for the consolidated absent voter counting boards
- The Board of Commissioners for digital meeting resources and technology upgrades; and creating the strategic blueprint for Successful Aging
- Information Technology for setting up a probation hotline, a health assessment database and an automated call distribution system for residents to access employees who were working remotely; and improving cyber security.
For more information on the NACo awards
|
