PA Human Services Secretary Introduced to Chester County’s Human Needs Network

Chester County Government showcased its recently-introduced Human Needs Network service to Pennsylvania Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh this week, highlighting the unique initiative that brings a local focus on helping residents experiencing a behavioral health crisis or needing information about services ranging from food to housing to mental health assistance.

During the afternoon briefing, Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe explained the County's intent for this new service.

"An important component of the Human Needs Network is having local professionals help those experiencing a crisis, whether it be a housing or basic needs crisis or mental health crisis," said Chester County Commissioners' Chair Josh Maxwell. "We are building a team that is based here in the county and who can help their neighbors, whether it be through taking a call, finding support services, or having trained peers heading out to meet with individuals who are going through a crisis any time day or night."

In addition to outlining the core of the Human Needs Network - including the local contact center for 211 and 988 calls - Chester County's Human Services Director, Pat Bokovitz, and his team reported on the early impacts of using a local contact center and mobile crisis response teams.

"Since we started answering the 211 calls for behavioral health information in April, our resource navigators have answered over 1,000 calls a month. These calls are requesting help finding assistance with food, housing, mental health, and various other behavioral health challenges that Chester County residents face every day.

"In addition, the staff answering the 988 and local crisis line calls are connecting individuals in a behavioral health crisis to appropriate services," added Bokovitz. "One of those services, the Mobile Crisis Resolution teams, started providing in-person services in mid-May, and the teams have been dispatched over 350 times to all corners of Chester County, helping residents in a crisis."

The meeting with Secretary Arkoosh included a tour of the County's 211 and 988 contact centers, located in the Chester County Government Services Center.

"As a former County Commissioner, I know how important it is for our counties to have robust, responsive networks that are able to help their residents facing urgent, often multi-layered crises. A person's present challenges are typically the culmination of multiple factors, and if we're going to make an impact, we must prepare and empower teams to take a holistic approach to helping others," said Secretary Arkoosh.

"Chester County's Human Needs Network has built a system that is doing just that. By aligning behavioral health crisis support with screenings and information on resources we all need to live, this network is getting to the core of what can get a person to that crisis point and creating a simple access point to get people they help they deserve."

The Human Needs Network of Chester County was developed with input from leaders of more than 50 local organizations who represent all sectors of the community - from first responders, schools, hospitals, and libraries to nonprofits and veteran organizations, the United Way of Chester County and County government departments. Many now serve on the Human Needs Network's Community Advisory Board.

A significant portion of Chester County's investment in the Human Needs Network was covered by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

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