Our mission is to elevate the mental well-being of Lancaster County children. Children like 16-year-old Alicia* whose suicidal thoughts and experimentation with cutting were unnoticed until a grant and physician training intervened with screening and referral. Children like Joanna’s* infant son was born while she was incarcerated. Thanks to grants that provided a family advocate […]
The pain and suffering of untreated depression or anxiety may be the greatest impetus for someone to consider ending their life. If they complete suicide, loved ones are left with regret, guilt, and unspeakable grief. Children and teens are left traumatized, struggling to process their loss. Too often, teens are losing their peers to suicide. […]
Our board and staff recently spent a day together to ask ourselves tough questions about implicit bias, micro-aggression, and racial equity. What we learned will help us each personally, and propel us to take LOHF’s mission of enhancing children’s behavioral health to the next level. Diversity, equity, and inclusion Our diversity positively influences perspective, and […]
By Anna Kennedy, Executive Director Our dear friend Bob Haigh passed away at his home on May 12, after being hospitalized for 10 days. His sister was by his side. Bob was a dear friend and mentor. He served as LOHF’s first President/CEO. Bob was an incredible force for philanthropic good in Pennsylvania. He had […]
By Anna Kennedy, LOHF Executive Director Recently, I attended Equity Summit 2018 with PolicyLink and other national health foundations to learn how to view children’s behavioral health through an equity lens. Angela Glover Blackwell, CEO of PolicyLink defines equity as “promoting just and fair inclusion throughout society and creating the conditions in which everyone can […]
Info session scheduled for nonprofit community benefit organizations to learn more. When Joanna* was jailed at Lancaster County Prison, she was already expecting to give birth to a baby boy in 6 weeks. Compass Mark’s Family Services Advocate met with her soon after her incarceration. Joanna hoped her supportive boyfriend could be equipped to parent […]
by Anna Kennedy, LOHF Executive Director I joined 10 colleagues from Lancaster organizations last week to learn how to apply racial justice in our work. For me, this was helpful to explore how racism can discourage children and families’ mental health, and how racial justice can improve it. YWCA Lancaster and the Lancaster […]
Now Accepting Nurse Scholarship Applications Each year nursing scholarships are awarded to deserving students beginning their nursing education as well as students who are advancing their nursing careers. The LOHF nursing scholarship program supports nurses pursuing their LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, and advanced degrees. Our awards are based on financial need, passion for the nursing […]
LOHF is governed by an all-volunteer board and committees. We could not accomplish the mission of improving children’s behavioral health without their diverse perspective, expertise, and passion. Transitions We extend a heartfelt thank you to LOHF board members who completed their terms in December. LOHF is stronger thanks to the leadership of our outgoing board […]
When children and teens struggle with depression, anxiety, and stress, their whole family is affected. Yet, as many as 80% of kids with behavioral health needs don’t get the help they deserve. LOHF donors share our mission to change this in Lancaster County. We provide a safety net of support for families by strengthening and […]