(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen reports the library was selected for a Public Library Collaboration grant Award totaling $18,042, to bring mental health resources to Cass County, through local libraries and in collaboration with other local organizations. The award is made possible through the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 6. Andersen says “I have been getting NNLM’s newsletters for a while, and this grant opportunity sounded like a good match for our needs in Cass County. I am excited that we received the award, and now it’s time to get to work.”

During the Summer, Andersen asked Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh if Healthy Cass County (HCC) would support the application and mental health programming. Andersen said HCC was instrumental in completing the Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment in April, 2021, in which mental health was identified as the top health need by both health service providers, and the public. Over 470 people participated in the assessment, representing various income levels, ages, races, and geographic locations across the County.

The Public Library Collaboration Award will provide funding for a three-pronged approach to mental health resources:

• It will assist in the purchase of tablets for use at the Atlantic Public Library. Tablets give a greater sense of privacy for the user to look-up information that may be stigmatized, without concern of someone else seeing what they are doing.
• It will purchase mental health resources to distribute for use at every library in Cass County. A list of books, documentaries, games and kits have been selected, and will be placed in each of the six public libraries.
• It will fund mental health programs that will be available at no charge, to the public.

As part of the application, the library submitted letters of support from COVID Recovery Iowa, Full Circle Therapy, HCC, ISU Extension, Make it OK, Senior Life Solutions,  and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services. Andersen said those organizations committed to participating in and supporting, mental health programs available to the public, and that the depth and breadth of support in their letters, demonstrated significantly, the library’s application.