Agencies especially grateful for annual Geneva mental health grants

As the economic news grows gloomier, local social service agencies are being called on more and more by people seeking help for addictions and mental health issues.

So they were extremely appreciative to receive the City of Geneva's annual mental health fund grants this week.

"I have worked for SPS (Suicide Prevention Services) for 10 years and never seen the amount of people walking through our doors," said Mari Wittum, the agency's clinical director.

James Otepka, executive director of TriCity Family Services, said sometimes even offering services on an income-based sliding-fee scale is too much for some people. One of its intake workers told him, "I'm hearing from more and more folks 'I can't afford anything.' "

Others noted that reimbursements from the state for services have been delayed.

The $135,750 comes from a property tax levied for the Geneva 708 Mental Health Board.

The seven-member panel is charged with administering the Community Mental Health Act; the act's bill number, when passed in the 1980s, was 708.

Agencies receiving grants, and the amounts, were:

• Association for Individual Development, $26,300

• Court-Appointed Special Advocates, $1,700

• DayOne Network, $5,000

• Elderday Center, $3,900

• Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, $3,000

• Geneva School District 304, $10,100

• Lazarus House shelter, $9,500

• LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, $2,900

• Renz Addiction Center, $5,300

• Suicide Prevention Services, $4,000

• Tri-City Health Partnership, $1,350

• TriCity Family Services, $28,500

• Ecker Center for Mental Health, $27,000

• Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice, $7,200