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06/27/2023 12:01 PMThe town is planning on giving $23,902 to Westbrook Youth and Family Services, Inc. (WYFS) to help provide mental health support to seniors in town.
The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) was designed to provide provides federal money to municipalities for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Westbrook has received $2,032,884.58 and allocated $1,029,392 so far.
Last month, the Board of Selectman approved awarding $23,902 of the ARPA money to WYFS to help with programming for senior citizens’ mental health needs. The Board of Finance still needs to approve the move.
WYFS is a nonprofit and not a town entity, but it works closely with the Westbrook community.
“We want to use the money to help with two different vulnerable groups in town: the senior citizens and the Visiting Nurses,” said WYFS Director Sara Zaientz.
While people wonder about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children, senior citizens also have mental health needs. Zaientz said that the organization has made areas of the office at 1163 Boston Post Road more accessible for seniors and will now offer more mental health programs.
“We wanted to help the people in our community who needed help after COVID and this was a good opportunity to do so,” Zaientz said.
The Visiting Nurses is a nonprofit that provides nursing services to eligible patients’ homes.
“There isn’t a lot of mental health support for the clients so we wanted to give them programs that they can bring to their clients. Also want to support the staff with mental health support for the staff. It’s a hard job, and it’s stressful,” Zaientz said.
She added that support will also be offered for the family of the patients.
Zaientz reiterated that the WYFS is available to help residents with a wide variety of needs and encouraged people who may need help to call 860- 860-399-9239 or to visit the office.
“If it’s not something we can help with, we’ll help you find someone who can,” Zaientz said.