Since 2018, the Fairfield County Client Navigator program has been connecting residents of Fairfield County with the mental health services they need most. And they attribute their success to the strong partnerships and relationships they’ve built with local organizations.
Current Fairfield County Client Navigator, Tori Ivan, considers relationship building to be the most important component of strengthening the program. The referrals from agencies, providers, and individuals are growing, and together they are making sure residents in need are being reached.
“Without these relationships and the trust of the community, the program doesn’t exist,” Tori said.
Building trust takes time, and Tori has invested hers. She collaborates with organizations like the Suicide Prevention Coalition, Fairfield County P.A.R.T. (Prevention, Advocacy, Recovery and Treatment) Coalition, the Family, Adult & Children First Council, Project F.O.R.T, and more. The Fairfield County Client Navigator is also involved with community events such as Sober Fest, and Cops and Kids Day at Ohio University-Lancaster.
“We are in the community, reaching people where they are, and building relationships with both providers and different community agencies,” she said. “We meet regularly with the people who are doing the work, making sure to continue fostering those relationships through ongoing contact.”
One of the biggest gestures of trust is the referral of a family member. Late last year, a longstanding community partner who had been working closely with Tori referred a family member to her for connection to mental health resources.
“They needed a couple of different providers but didn’t know how to navigate the system, which providers offered the services needed, who took their insurance, and where they would be able to receive services in a timely fashion,” Tori said. “I was able to refer them to all the services they were seeking.”
This community partner later sent Tori a thank you email and gave us permission to share it here:
A success story like this is even more impactful considering the challenges Fairfield County and many other counties in the state face.
The rural community experiences a long-standing stigma of mental health, transportation barriers, and unreliable Internet service that can affect telehealth visits with providers. Like other parts of the state, workforce shortages and long waiting lists make it difficult for residents to be connected to the care they need.
But Tori partners with community mental health agencies like New Horizons, OhioGuidestone, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, and many others.
“I work along with them to ensure people who reach out to me for help are getting referred and getting linked to appropriate services,” she said.
And while community members are waiting for their first appointment, she can refer them to MHAOhio’s newly formed Fairfield County Support Groups, which just launched last year. Organized by MHAOhio’s Support Group Manager, Erica Duncan, the support groups offer understanding and a listening ear to those living with a mental health condition. There is also a support group specifically for family members and loved ones of people living with a mental illness or substance use disorder called Families in Touch.
The Fairfield County Support Groups and Fairfield County Client Navigator are both funded by the Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board and other community donors.
If you or someone you know needs to be connected to services in Fairfield County, call Tori at (740) 475-0415 or toll free at (855) 281-5726, or email her at tivan@mhaohio.org. If would like to attend our free Fairfield County support groups, visit our Events page or contact Erica with your questions at (614) 221-1441 or email her at eduncan@mhaohio.org.
