The Clinton-Lycoming Joinder Board approved an amendment to a re-investment agreement with PCS-Mental Health which is Project Transitions which will increase to $600,000 the amount for the development of the adult psychiatric residential treatment facility at Lock Haven. The original amount budgeted for the project had been $418,767.

“This is to help them with construction costs,” said Keith Wagner, executive director of the Joinder Board.

Wagner indicated that a site has been chosen for the facility in Woodward Township, Clinton County, and that construction should begin in early spring.

In other actions, the Joinder Board approved an agreement with West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission to provide a training coordinator for Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement, EMS, probation and other crisis members of the community.

The purpose of the training is to provide first responders with de-escalation techniques when they encounter individuals having a mental health related issue in the community.

Wagner said that the program, which had been led by Barb Vanaskie, of West Branch Drug and Alcohol, initially had been started prior to the pandemic and then it “sort of fell apart.”

“She has successfully run two trainings a year for the last three years. She’s been working on getting more community awareness that if you’re out and you think you or your family member are experiencing something that benefits from a CIT trained officer that you can request one,” Wagner said.

The cost for the program has decreased by $800 to a cost of $20,000 for the fiscal year.

An agreement was also approved with Ray of Sunshine Developmental Services LLC, to provide occupational, physical and speech therapy for children ages 0-3 at $34.70 per quarter hour.

The following advisory board appointments were approved: CYS Sub-Committee – Lauren Guinter, Kendra Lorson and Tia Mayo; Intellectual Disabilities Sub-Committee – Michele Hazel; Mental Health Sub-Committee, Nancy Butts. All terms for these appointments end 6/30/2029.