Paul Szmal: FLX Morning continues on this Monday. There is a winter weather advisory in effect for Wayne and Northern Cuyahoga County. This kicks in later this afternoon and continues through tomorrow afternoon for some of the conditions you heard Kevin Williams just talking about. We have a first time guest joining us on the program now and that is Jennifer Cathy. She is the executive director of an organization called Delphi Rise. Jen, good morning. How are you this morning?
Jennifer Kathy: Good morning, Paul. I'm doing great. Thanks. How are you?
Paul Szmal: I am good. I am good. Let's start by filling people in on what Delphi Rise is and what it's all about.
Jennifer Kathy: Absolutely. So Delphi Rise has been an organization in our community for 90 years. We're actually celebrating our 90th birthday next year, which we're very excited about. We were formerly known as Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council, Incorporated, but we are doing business as Delphi Rise. We are a small but mighty organization that serves two counties, Wayne as well as Monroe. In Wayne County, we specifically have been providing prevention services in the school. So we're in nearly every school district in Wayne County. We provide counselors and education around substance use for young people. And we all know how important that is. We also provide throughout six counties, including Wayne, something called Mental Health First Aid. So that's really, again, more of a prevention service. And it's for folks who are just living their life in their community. They see someone that might be either having a mental health crisis or they are concerned about someone. So it really gives people shared language and a way to intervene. So the heart of what we do is around substance use and mental health. In Monroe County, we also offer a lot of New York State prison and local probation opportunities through reentry. We have a 24-7 open access for substance use. We have outpatient treatment and many others. So we certainly find ourselves in the position of trying to meet all of the needs of individuals with a real focus on substance use prevention and treatment.
Paul Szmal: Now, how long have you been executive director of the organization?
Jennifer Kathy: Three years. Halloween. So my first day, I was wearing a Wicked Witches hat. And so now I've been here for three years, Paul.
Paul Szmal: Oh, wow. Tell me a little bit about the whole substance abuse prevention. Is that one of those cases where the easiest way to stop something like that is to keep it from starting?
Jennifer Kathy: It absolutely is. And we know this research shows this. And unfortunately, prevention is usually the first type of a program on the chopping block. And the reason why is that when money is tight, funds go towards people who are actively utilizing substances, are really struggling already. They're already in treatment. Unfortunately, sometimes that's too late. And so we know prevention works. We use evidence-based practices in our schools. We provide that very safe place for young people who are maybe just starting to experiment a little bit or finding themselves in situations where they're uncomfortable. And we know that if they do not end up utilizing substances, that the reality is they will fare far better as an adult. We have research that proves this. We also have research that proves that utilization of substances, whether that's marijuana or cocaine or any other kind of substances before 16, creates a direct pathway towards substance use issues as an adult. So we want to get in there. We want to support young people right away. And we also know that sometimes young people are struggling with family members who are using substances. And they want to create a different pathway for themselves. And we're there. When funding gets cut, however, prevention is, like I said, the first one on the chopping block, unfortunately.
Paul Szmal: Now, one of the acts that you perform as executive director is acquiring grants. And you were successful in obtaining a grant in conjunction with a Alex Eli Community Center in Newark. Tell me about that grant.
Jennifer Kathy: Yeah, absolutely. We're so excited. So Wayne County is an amazing, amazing place. There is really such a community-wide effort on pushing in, lifting up other organizations and leaning in to support young people. And so there was an opportunity through the Office of Mental Health, so that's a New York State agency, to provide what's called a safe space. And what a safe space is intended to do is to make sure that all young people have a place to go where they feel like they belong. And we know that we are here to prevent substance use, but we're also here to prevent mental health crisis. And unfortunately, we have seen suicides in Wayne County of young people more than we want to. And so what the intention of this is that we would partner with the Newark School District, the Alex Eli Community Center right in Newark, as well as a whole array of other partners. And again, Wayne County is unique and partners come together to rally around issues. So we're very excited to say that we received a grant that starts January 1st of this year, on or about, for $250,000 a year for five years. And really we're excited because it gives us an opportunity to create that space that kids don't already feel safe. So tons of kids go to Alex Eli, but not everyone necessarily feels as welcome for a variety of reasons. And so we really want to flip the switch and create a new narrative where it says everyone belongs here to make sure that kids have the right supports in place.
Paul Szmal: I think for kids nowadays, things can be a little bit more maybe difficult than it was for my generation or the generation before. Especially because of the advent of social media, you have cyber bullying now, which is a whole different level of issues that young people have to deal with that we didn't have to.
Jennifer Kathy: That's absolutely right. And also, honestly, what we're hearing more and more about in the research is that even the advent of social media beyond cyber bullying, but with the influx of information and the need to present a certain way and always comparing yourself against what appears like a perfectly tailored world on social media, creates real and sustaining mental health challenges. And there's a lot of concern around the development of young people and whether they'll be able to hit typical developmental milestones because of some of these very new and challenging dynamics. So you're absolutely right. And cyber bullying cannot be underestimated. And again, just because bullying may not look physical, it's different now. Kids aren't necessarily getting pushed into lockers in a physical way, but mentally they are getting bullied during the day, after hours, overnight, on the weekends, they can't quite get away from it. And again, this creates potentially a physical location they can go to shut that world out and connect with other young people who are supportive and really want to create a network of support to one another.
Paul Szmal: Now, when does this whole program get underway?
Jennifer Kathy: Yeah. So the funds will begin to flow early January. We have about three months to really launch. We'll be hiring a program manager over there. The first thing that program manager will do, we'll start to honestly gather a youth advisory board, start talking to young people like what's missing? What needs to change? Why don't they show up? We're working really closely with the Newark School District for them to identify some young people that might be really good candidates, not only for a youth advisory board, but also for the program. And then we start making it into something different. We start painting. We start purchasing soft furniture. We're bringing in a computer lab. We're really starting to make sure that young people have a place to tell us what they want. And we're going to go out and make it happen. So, for example, there'll be other types of organizations pushing in. Maybe it's yoga. Maybe we're doing field trips. Maybe we're doing cooking classes. We have a variety of things we can offer. But first, we want to really hear from our youth. So once we get that program manager hired in early January, we're going to really start a launch. And by March, we're going to be ready to go and start really serving kids the way they'd like to see themselves be served.
Paul Szmal: Sounds pretty amazing that you've got this 90-day plan in place, shall we say.
Jennifer Kathy: We do, yes. And one of the nice things about contracting with the Office of Mental Health is they recognize change takes time. And so they really encouraged us to look at what we needed in those first few months and not to be expected to flip a light switch and be ready to go, because that's not what works for kids. We need to hear from our kids. What is it that they say is missing and what will make them safe? Adult solutions don't always work for young people. And so the Office of Mental Health has really heard that and is encouraging us to take some time to get the right staff and the right young people's voices heard.
Paul Szmal: For the parents, grandparents that are listening that maybe have youth in their household that could benefit from the programs and services that Delphi Rise offers, how do they reach out?
Jennifer Kathy: Yeah, so we have a couple of ways you can reach out. You can actually send a quick email to info at Delphi Rise dot org. That's I-N-F-O at Delphi Rise. And Delphi is spelled D-E-L-P-H-I-R-I-S-E dot org. Otherwise, you can just communicate with the Alex Eli Center or give us a call. We're at area code five, eight, five, four, six, seven, two, two, three, zero. They can even ask to speak to me. I'm Jen Cathey and I'm the CEO and I'd be happy to answer a call and help navigate support.
Paul Szmal: Jen, it's wonderful to hear about the organization and the plans that you have in place for the Safe Space for Youth that is working with the Alex Eli Community Center and the different partners. Thanks for coming on and telling us about it this morning. We appreciate it.
Jennifer Kathy: Absolutely, Paul. We're looking forward to sharing our successes in the future.
Paul Szmal: Absolutely. It is eight fifty one on FLX morning.
