The Network of Care web site provides Stark County citizens with the opportunity to access the latest information and resources available for mental health and other social services. The web site has been customized for Stark County and is among the first of its kind in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Mental Health provided start-up funding and selected Stark County as one of three Ohio pilot programs.

 

The Network of Care virtual community was developed by Trilogy Integrated Resources LLC, a company dedicated to improving information and communication in the health and social service fields at the community level.

 

This easy-to-use web site provides an extensive directory to put people in touch with the right services at the right time. The site has two major areas of focus and serves as a resource for individuals, families and agencies involved with children and youths ages 0-18 or those seeking information about mental health and emotional wellness.

 

This valuable resource will increase access and knowledge of existing services and will enable more people to communicate to each other about their interests and concerns connected to mental health. Network of Care also provides easy-to-search libraries and vital information about specific disorders, pending legislation and advocacy, as well as daily news articles from around the world concerning mental and emotional wellness.

 

To increase accessibility and accommodate Network of Care's users, the site's innovative technology provides near-universal access, regardless of literacy or income level, to web-based services through a text-only version of the site and other adaptive technologies. The site is fully ADA-compliant and Bobby-approved. Network of Care also is available in multiple languages.

 

Network of Care was included in the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health's Final Report as a program that can assist consumers in managing their own care, as well as make up-to-date information on mental disorders easily accessible to consumers, family members and professionals.