The Lawrence County CAO met at the Proctor’s Landing senior living facility for its monthly board meeting on Thursday afternoon. The facility, which is operated by the CAO as managing general partner and 1/100 owner, will also serve as the site of a new senior center, replacing the Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center when that facility moves.

“We’re really proud of it,” CAO Director D.R. Gossett said, “and really thankful for (assistant executive director) Ralph (Kline)’s work on it.”

The board moved to continue participation in a Lawrence-Scioto Emergency Management program, approved policies and procedures, and approved minutes from the previous meeting.

The also moved to delay action on the resignation of Cline McNeely, whose resignation Gossett called, “a loss to the board.”

In his report, Family Guidance Center Clinical Director John Hurley noted the upcoming open house at the Aid Center in Kitts Hill, from 9 a.m.-noon, on June 29.

Hurley also discussed the importance of mental and behavioral healthcare and strategies for providing those services during traditional healthcare visits.

“We’ve integrated behavioral health into the medical care system,” Hurley explained, noting the importance of addressing those issues in helping folks stay on task with their physical health needs as well.

Hurley also discussed their grant for the Spectrum program. They’ve secured the grant for another year for the program that allows them to provide services to girls aged 12-18 who have substance abuse problems themselves or in their family. The main purpose of the program, he explained, is to expand their horizons.

“We’re trying to expose them to more options in life,” Hurley said. “If we expose them to more, they can make better choices. It’s hard to choose what you don’t know about.”

Hurley also discussed feeding sites for the summer feeding program, and the Super Saturday Summer Heat Program offering electrical assistance, from 8 a.m.-noon, July 29, at the One Stop Center.

Director of Early Childhood Services Sharon Daniels, told the board that they have started the grant application process for Head Start assistance. It isn’t due until August, she explained, but they wanted an early start on it, as well as application for a one percent cost of living increase.

Daniels also requested and received board approval for an increase to daycare costs. The weekly costs for childcare will increase by $5 across the board, with costs for pre-schoolers increasing from $115 to $120 a week, toddlers to $125, and infants to $130. Costs for daily drop-in childcare will increase by $10, from $20 to $30.

Daniels also reminded the board that the organization is currently taking applications for Head Start in the Fall. Head Start currently serves 472 children in Lawrence County, with 356 enrolled in pre-school and another 116 in the Early Head Start program.