In Holmes County, getting to counseling can take more than courage. It can mean a long drive, time off work, a ride for your teen, and a stack of forms to fill out. For some families, those hurdles are the reason care stops before it has a chance to help.

Anazao Community Partners has received $80,247 from Ohio’s opioid settlement, through the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, to make that easier. The money will go toward prevention: helping young people before substance use becomes a problem. Over the next two years, the Rural Youth Stability and Access Initiative will make affordable therapy and support for Holmes County youth easier to reach, at home, at school, and on their phones.

Who this prevention project is for

The project focuses on Holmes County youth and young adults ages 14 to 25 and their families. It is built for people affected by substance use, whether a young person is at risk, already struggling, or living with a family member’s addiction.

The years from 14 to 25 bring big changes. Young people are finishing school, starting jobs, and learning to live on their own. These are also the years when substance use problems most often begin. Support during this time can change what comes next.

Affordable therapy for Holmes County youth

Cost should not decide whether a young person gets help. Anazao accepts Medicaid and private insurance and offers a sliding fee scale based on household income. For most covered Medicaid services, the cost is $0.

This grant also helps Anazao serve families in the middle: those who earn too much for public assistance but not enough to easily pay for care. If that sounds like your family, you are not alone. Ask about your options before deciding help is out of reach. Our financial cost page explains what to expect.

What will change

Here is what the grant will help Anazao do:

• Meet you closer to home. Anazao’s Holmes County case managers will do more visits at home, at school, and in the community, so you spend less time driving to appointments.
• Help young people plan for adulthood. Case managers will be trained in the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model. TIP is a research-backed approach that helps youth and young adults set goals for work, school, housing, and relationships, then take steps toward them.
• Make paperwork easier. A new online patient portal, expected in early 2027, will let families schedule appointments, fill out intake forms, and send secure messages from a phone.
• Give staff more time with you. New digital tools will cut the time staff spend on paperwork, so more of their time goes to the people they serve.

What does a case manager do?

A case manager helps you sort out what you need and how to get it. That can mean finding local resources, keeping track of appointments, or working through complicated systems like insurance or school services. Learn more on our case management page.

Built on local partnerships

Anazao has had staff in Holmes County schools for more than 20 years and works with East Holmes and West Holmes Local Schools today. This project also works alongside the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties, Holmes County courts, and Holmes County Job and Family Services and Children Services. These partners help connect young people and families with care sooner.

Opioid settlement money, used for prevention

Ohio receives money from national legal settlements with companies that made, distributed, and sold opioid painkillers. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation shares a large part of that money with local communities. Anazao’s grant was funded under Region 11’s prevention priority. That means these dollars are meant to stop problems before they start: helping young people build skills, stay on track at school or work, and get support early instead of waiting for a crisis.

Support shouldn’t begin at the breaking point

You do not have to wait until things fall apart to ask for help. If you are worried about your teen, a young adult in your life, or yourself, start with a conversation.

• Call Anazao at 330-264-9597.
• Visit our new clients page to learn how to get started.
• See what to expect on our financial cost page.

If you need help right now

Anazao is not an emergency service. If you or someone you love is in crisis:

• Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
• Call the Holmes-Wayne 24-hour crisis response team at 330-845-4357.
• If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.