Here's what we found for you
- Healthy Pregnancy
For expecting mothers, preparing for a healthy birth starts long before labor and delivery. From conception until you bring your baby home, get the early and regular prenatal care you need for a happy and healthy pregnancy. There are many affordable prenatal care providers available here in Stark County.
- Behind On Rent & Utilities
If you’re facing financial hardships and need help with rent and utilities to help you stay afloat, Stark County offers various programs to assist. Review the options available and reach out to find out which programs might work best for you.
- Affordable & subsidized housingFinancial hardship can be a key contributor to homelessness. For families and young people with limited income, affordable housing may seem out of reach. Learn about local resources and apartment communities that offer low-rent or subsidized housing in Stark County.
- Telehealth is here!Whether you are new to professional mental health support or have been in treatment before, telethealth is here to help.
- Forms & applications
Before you schedule an appointment with one of our service providers, it can be helpful to learn about the documentation required. Forms can be printed and completed ahead of time or filled out in person during your initial visit.
- Legal assistance for adults
In Stark County, alongside a plethora of print and digital materials, numerous legal champions stand ready to aid adults navigating the local justice system. These dedicated professionals, ranging from program facilitators to volunteer lawyers, law institutions, bar associations, and community members, generously provide essential legal support to adults in the area. If you require legal aid, seek out individuals, initiatives, and resources available to assist you.
- Legal assistanceIn addition to a wealth of print and online resources, Stark County has many legal advocates available to support young people in the local justice system. These experts – from program providers to pro-bono attorneys, law schools, bar associations and other organizations and individuals –selflessly deliver valuable legal aid to local youth and their families.
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- Peer pressure: youth & teens
From the time social connections are formed, children experience peer pressure. Wanting to fit in is a normal part of growing up, but sometimes these pressures can lead to harmful behaviors. Some youth may experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Others may act out through violence or risky behaviors. If you know someone on a destructive path, learn where to get help and support.
- Gangs & violence: youth & teens
Gang violence affects many communities – including Stark County – creating a climate of fear and increased criminal behavior. In fact, youth violence is one of the leading causes of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing it is a vital part of promoting the health and safety of our youth and overall community. Learn about the resources available to help keep gang violence out of our local schools and neighborhoods.
- LGBTQ+ alliesBeing an LGBTQ+ ally is a verb. You must do the work to be a true ally. Find tips & resources to be an ally for Stark County’s LGBTQ+ community.
- Gang ViolenceWhile being part of a gang is dangerous, escaping from a gang family may be even more so. Gangs typically don’t want members to leave because there’s a fear of betrayal – that they’ll expose what they know to law enforcement or even a rival gang. While getting out of gang life isn’t easy, it is possible with persistence, support and the right resources.
- Shawna’s Story of MotherhoodWhen Shawna and her husband found out she was pregnant, they didn’t know where to start. Yet everything changed when she met a THRIVE health worker.
- Foster Children: Aging Out Resources
Children who are part of the foster care system in Stark County will eventually reach the age of 18 and age out of the program. Just like anyone else, these young adults may have medical and mental health care needs. But unlike other young people, once they age out of foster care, they no longer have the same financial and emotional backing at home.
Unfortunately, these young people rarely receive the emotional and behavioral health services they need because of a lack of insurance and family support.
- Early Childhood (Ages 0 - 3)
- Childhood (Ages 4 - 10)
- Youth & Teens (Ages 11 - 17)
- Alternative Therapies for Mental Health6 Holistic Outlets to Improve Your Mental Health & Wellbeing
More and more people are realizing how important our mental health is to our overall wellbeing. While traditional medical treatments play an integral role in maintaining good mental health, holistic mental health outlets provide a complementary approach. Though not a substitute for professional help, these outlets offer unique strategies to improve your mental and overall health.
These alternative therapies for mental health range from free,
- Most Common Misconceptions About Mental HealthMental Health Assumptions: Fact or Fiction?
Despite all the information available about anxiety, depression, addiction and other mental health issues, many misconceptions persist.
Mental health misconceptions can be dangerous when they keep people from getting the treatment they need. Let’s talk about mental health issues and learn to separate fact from fiction. What are some common misconceptions about mental health?
Fact: Mental Health Issues Are Actually Quite CommonMental health issues are uncommon,
- Mental Health Month: Ways to Stop the StigmaFind out how to promote understanding, increase opportunities for help and improve the lives of those facing mental health conditions in Stark County.
- Removing Barriers to Owning a Small Business
StarkFresh serves the people of Stark County through a variety of ways, all in the name of their mission: “Tackling the causes of hunger by creating realistic pathways out of poverty.” Many in the county know StarkFresh for its grocery store located in downtown Canton on Cherry Ave. NE or its mobile grocery market that travels throughout the area; though the programs offered through StarkFresh go past the scope of bringing food to people in need.
- MentorStark Amplifies Mentoring in Stark County
It’s National Mentoring Month and there’s no better time to tell you how being a mentor changed my life! I have learned from the perspectives of young people. I have witnessed firsthand systemic racism and inequity. I have experienced the roadblocks that get in the way of accessing community resources. I have become a better listener and less judgmental. And I have seen how young people can lead the way, if given a voice and an opportunity.
- The Legacy Project of Stark Makes an imPACT
Who We Are
In 2015, The Legacy Project of Stark was founded by Eugene Lingenhoel. As he was delivering backpacks & school supplies at Lehman Middle School in Canton City, the principal, Jeanne McNeal, who is now the principal at Oakwood Middle School in Plain Local, asked Eugene if he would be willing to meet with some of her students. Jeanne saw a need for her students to have a positive role model in their life and saw an opportunity to provide that for them.
- Human TraffickingThe growing rates of sexual exploitation in Stark County are due in part to our prominent interstate system, sports facilities, strip clubs and hotel developments – common environments for this hidden crime. Find resources to help combat sex trafficking in Northeast Ohio.
- Early Warning Signs of Mental Illness
Mental health is an important part of one’s overall wellbeing. Similar to physical health, early detection of mental health issues can be pivotal in ensuring more effective treatment, a speedy recovery and a better quality of life.
However, we must understand that while we can recognize signs of distress, the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues are a complex process best left to professionals.
Understanding the early warning signs of mental illness is not your chance to diagnose someone.
- Introducing the Stark County Mindfulness WalkStarkMHAR & Stark Parks partnered to create a 1-mile Mindfulness Walk with activities to promote mental health & self-care while enjoying nature.
- Mental Health Resources During the Coronavirus Pandemic
This year, we’ve faced a pandemic unlike anything in our lifetimes. As we get closer to a vaccine for coronavirus, many people in Stark County are still feeling the stressful effects. Fortunately, the stress response is normal during a crisis.
Are you looking for ways to manage feelings of stress and anxiety? Here are some common questions we have received related to mental health, coping with COVID-19 in the community,
- Your Guide to Pride: 2022 Ohio Pride Events
Happy Pride Month, Ohioans! Nowadays, Pride celebrations extend beyond the month of June and into the summer, so everyone has a chance to celebrate. If you’re looking for Pride events near you throughout Ohio, you’ve come to the right place.
No matter how you identify or if you’re an ally, there’s a Pride parade, festival or celebration near you. Be sure to catch a live performance, support local vendors who attend, volunteer for a committee,
Free Mom Hugs
Free Mom Hugs in Ohio can be found at Pride and LGBTQ+ community-focused events across the state. Once you register with the Ohio group, they will connect you with the appropriate local chapter.
Free Mom Hugs works to empower the world to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. We embrace people of all faiths, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. Our goal is to change the world simply by showing up.
Our goal is not to replace family relationships,