Project Oz

The McLean County Board of Health got around 13 applications from groups looking to fund behavioral health efforts. It's chosen seven projects, all with a mental health focus.

A federal grant will send more than $350,000 to McLean County to help prevent domestic violence and sexual assault against children.

Project Oz has existed in Bloomington for just over half a century, and it’s the only social service organization in the county dedicated to helping youth and adolescents — ages 10 to 23 — facing a housing crisis.

Project Oz broke ground Thursday on its long-awaited building expansion that will make room for the Youth Education and Support Center that could open in as early as six months, CEO Lisa Thompson told WGLT. She added that groundwork is set to start next week.

McLean County Board Chair Catherine Metsker suspended meetings for the behavioral health advisory committee. She's given little detail about what that might mean for committee members or the public. Here's what WGLT knows so far.

The Bloomington-based nonprofit Project Oz will introduce a new program to divert youth from the justice system. It will also expand current services to house more area adolescents.

McLean County schools have been using restorative practices for years. A local expert wants to increase their use countywide.

Three local organizations are hosting National Recovery and National Suicide Prevention Month events in Bloomington-Normal toward the end of September.

The City of Bloomington is putting a chunk of its pandemic relief money into homeless services, youth education and support, a program for sexual assault survivors, and the facility of a human services agency.

Teens across the country are reporting record levels of sadness. Those trends are evident in McLean County, too.