(From the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS)
Four organizations have been awarded $16,900 in grants through the Hancock County Community Partnership for local prevention and wellness initiatives that promote health, wellness, safety, and/or reduce the likelihood of health-related problems for people of all ages.
The Partnership had requested proposals that focused on delaying the use of substances, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, vaping, and illicit drugs; supporting mental health and wellness; addressing problem gaming/gambling; and/or supporting the creation of welcoming spaces.
The recipients for 2025-2026 are: Awakening Minds Arts ($3,400), Bless Up and Bloom ($5,000), Fort Findlay FOP ($3,500), and Findlay High School ($5,000).
The Awakening Minds Arts Creative Wellness: Art for Mental Health & Social Connection initiative will support high school seniors navigating the transition to adulthood, a period often marked by stress, anxiety and uncertainty. Through a collaboration between AMA and the University of Findlay Social Work Department, social work students will offer a structured series of art and wellness workshops designed specifically for high school seniors in Hancock County by integrating creative expression, mindfulness training, and peer-centered activities to help students develop emotional resilience, self-compassion, leadership skills and a stronger sense of social and community belonging.
With its grant, Bless Up and Bloom will launch a wellness initiative providing haircuts and hygiene services to individuals currently enrolled in drug recovery programs in Hancock County. Many of these individuals face economic hardship and are unable to access these services independently. Goals include increasing self-confidence and self-worth among clients in recovery, supporting their reentry into the workforce and social settings and reducing relapse rates by addressing health and wellness holistically. Bless Up and Bloom will partner with local recovery programs to offer monthly grooming sessions onsite or at its salon location, serving 60–80 individuals over a six-month period.
Findlay High School experienced a significant number of student deaths during the 2024-2025 academic school year and sought a grant to support the need for mental health awareness and suicide prevention at Findlay High School. During the 2025-2026 school year, the C.O.R.E. (Community, Opportunity, Relationships, Empowerment) team will utilize funding to support positive mental health within its student population by offering workshops that focus on coping skills, building connections, and promoting self-care.
Counselors will determine which students participate in groups based on referrals from the school counselor and/or principal.
The Fort Findlay FOP Lodge #20 Foundation received funding for its Officer Appreciation Summer Picnic, an annual event designed to support Hancock County’s law enforcement community. Law enforcement and their families from all departments are invited to the free event to have fun, socialize and build supportive relationships between officers and youth. Families are also informed about the mental health resources available to them in the event of a crisis. A goal is to have at least 50 law enforcement families attend.