Children’s Resource Center Faces Barriers in Delivering Vital Mental Health Services in Wood County

By Julie Carle

BG Independent News

March 8, 2026

The Children’s Resource Center (CRC) provides a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services for youth in Wood County, but significant systemic barriers are impacting the agency’s ability to fully deliver those services. CRC staff recently shared program outcomes, successes, and future plans during a February meeting of the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) board.

State Mandated Reduction of Mobile Crisis Services

A key obstacle is a state-mandated reduction of local mobile crisis services. In fall 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services mandated that local mobile response services could only be provided from 8 a.m. To 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. This change aligned with the state department’s plan for state-level centralization of crisis services, directly impacting local funding and the structure of mobile response teams.

This directive has limited CRC’s ability to provide around-the-clock emergency services to children in their homes or communities. “One of our barriers is that the state currently is not willing to fund 8 p.m. To 8 a.m. Or all the weekend,” said Carmen Uresti, CRC director of emergency services, which includes the crisis team and mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS).

MRSS are designed to respond to crises quickly. “We can go into school systems and homes and facilitate stabilize these crises through MRSS. Our goal is to be at the crisis in 60 minutes,” Uresti explained. This rapid response is crucial given Wood County’s large service area of 617 square miles.

Other Challenges and Successes

Other barriers include workforce burnout and the high cost and long wait times for ambulance transport. Despite these challenges, Uresti highlighted several successes, particularly the safety planning conducted with every client. “We work with families and walk through to ensure the spaces are safe,” she said. Options as well include placement in CRC’s residential unit or hospitalization.

Positive outcomes include clients learning coping skills and decreases in escalations and truancy. A new clinician has been hired to provide crisis assessment, planning, and de-escalation with families Monday through Friday. CRC hopes to secure funding next year to increase emergency services to a 24/7/365 schedule and to increase the number of MRSS stabilizations provided.

Services Offered at CRC

Program outcomes, successes, barriers, and future plans were also addressed in CRC’s prevention, outpatient, residential, and early childhood mental health services. Outpatient services include agency- and school-based services, case management, day treatment, and co-occurring disorders, reported Mindy Bahnsen, director of outpatient services.

“Our job, especially with kids, is to open the doors, build therapy or any kind of services a positive experience,” Bahnsen said. Creating a positive experience early on encourages children to seek help in the future.

Recurring challenges across outpatient programs include a lack of parental involvement. School-based services are in high demand, but time constraints within the school day can make it difficult to address deep-seated trauma. The day treatment program provides an immediate environment to teach social and emotional regulation skills, while the co-occurring disorders program faces challenges with referrals, as many teens using substances lack external motivators to seek treatment.

Expansion of Residential and Crisis Services

Melanie VanDyne, chief executive officer of CRC, discussed the expansion of short-term crisis and residential treatment with the addition of a new, state-grant funded, regionally based facility adjacent to CRC. The new 14,300-square-foot facility will house an expanded short-term residential unit with 16 beds and 24/7 nursing staff, with an estimated average length of stay of 30-60 days.

Once the regional residential facility is completed, CRC will renovate its current residential space. Lindsey Saloiye, director of residential services, explained that the existing residential unit is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for youth in crisis or needing respite services. “Kids reach in to us through crisis or through a respite stay,” she said. “They’ll be with us until they’re stable or until respite is scheduled. We work on coping skills, being able to make sure that medication is being taken appropriately.” Saloiye highlighted the successful transition of four siblings placed in CRC’s care after being removed from their home by Jobs and Family Services.

Prevention and Early Childhood Services

Rachel Theis, director of prevention services, said they provide services to a large number of children and caregivers across 18 counties, offering consultation and training. During the past quarter, infant and early childhood mental health services helped 118 children and 183 caregivers, provided consultations to 23 classrooms (including 320 children and 46 caregivers), and reached 1,948 children and 253 caregivers through programmatic consultations. In Wood County, 20 parents, 25 children, and 6 professionals received primary care prevention services, and 25 trainings were provided for 601 participants.

The challenges CRC and other behavioral health agencies face are presented to the board to inform upcoming funding and strategic decisions. The board also approved a resolution requiring a 120-day notice for contract terminations or substantial changes.