Mercer officials accept grant to aid families with at-risk kids

MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners have accepted a grant to continue to help preschool children who are at risk of having academic or behavioral problems.
The $163,734 from the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare will be paid to private companies that screen children for a variety of problems and provide parenting classes in the Greenville, Reynolds, Jamestown and Commodore Perry school districts.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said the program helps at-risk families during their children's preschool years to prevent problems later.
Additional funds are expected to be granted soon for continuation of similar programs in the Mercer, Sharpsville, Hermitage and Lakeview school districts. Sharon and Farrell receive their own grants.
In other business at their recent meeting, commissioners approved an agreement with Oncology Hematology Associates of Pittsburgh to provide medical services to county jail inmates. The company has an office in Hermitage.
They also approved an agreement with Keystone Adolescent Center, Greenville, to provide $41,731 worth of independent living services for troubled youths in the court system.
Tracy Minteer of Hermitage and Launeice Crosby of Farrell were hired as caseworkers for the county children and youth services agency at $24,772 each per year.