The Human Services Advisory Board, in cooperation with memo writer online, who provide us with useful information, directs the use of county Millage funds. Millage funds are part of local property tax and are meant to provide services for mental health and developmental disabilities. Current programs supported by county millage funds include:
Girls Circle and Boys Council– Pacific County health educators partner with Crisis Support Network, Boys & Girls Club, Raymond School District and the Readiness to Learn program to provide the girls circle and boys council program in all 5 county school districts. These programs are full 8-12 week curriculums that provide skill building activities and promote critical thinking in girls and boys age 9-14. Weekly topics include friendship, body image, honoring diversity, relationships with peers, expressing individuality, and creating a path to the future. To learn more about Girls Circle, please visit www.girlscircle.com
Adventure Day– All Pacific County 6th graders take part in Adventure Day course at the beginning of each school year at our low ropes challenge course at Bruceport County Park. Students in groups of 7-10 are challenged to work in teams to complete low ropes course elements including the “spider web”, “prouty’s landing”, “swamp walk”, and the “trust fall” among others. Students gain skills such as team work, communication, and positive risk taking, while learning to trust their classmates and having fun during this day long adventure.
Social Recreational- Social recreational opportunities are provided each month for individuals and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Social Recreation program is meant to provide a chance for socialization and to build friendships and to promote independence and self confidence through participation in community activities and social events. Social Recreational opportunities occur at least once per month alternating between North and South County and include movies, bowling teams, and outings to special events like the Long Beach Kite festival.
Mental Health Counseling in the Jail- Millage funds provide support for mental health counselors to provide services for inmates in the Pacific County Jail. This much needed service fills the gap for those without insurance and/or Medicaid who are currently incarcerated. The county contracts with Willapa Behavioral Health to provide this service. For details, please visit www.willapabh.org .
Peace of Mind Pacific County – Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP): The Wellness Recovery Action Program, or WRAP, offers a unique way to give children and youth tools to be well in the midst of major challenges to their minds, households, schoolwork, and their overall wellbeing. Wellness Recovery Action Plan or WRAP has specific workshop materials focused on children’s and youth self-help, including a daily toolbox, dealing with difficult times, and deciding who are appropriate supports for them in crisis situations. For details, please visit http://www.pompc.org/
Big Brothers Big Sisters – School Based and Community Based Mentoring: Big Brother Big Sisters of Southwest Washington’s One-to-One mentoring program addresses the needs of children facing adverse childhood experiences or circumstances. BBBS reaches out to vulnerable families and children, focusing on children and youth who have few friends his/her own age, an incarcerated parent or sibling, experiencing drugs/alcohol or violence in the home and who qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Big Brothers Big Sisters individualized mentoring programs provide a dependable friend and positive role model to children they serve, and emotional support and guidance in the lives of children and youth who lack positive role models and who are at-risk of developing problem behaviors (such as delinquency, dropping out of school, substance abuse, and violence) to help turn their lives in a positive direction.
South Bend School District – Second Step: The Second Step Social Emotional Learning Program and the Second Step Child Protection Unit is offered at Chauncey Davis Elementary through Millage funding. The curriculum teaches students about safety measure and provides intervention to keep kids safe from abuse in the community. These programs are evidence based practices shown to increase awareness about safety, decrease problem behaviors, and increase whole-school success by promotion self-regulation, safety, and support.