Operation Search & Help expanding to families across Mahoning, Trumbull counties

Lynnette Forde, president of the Youngstown Foundation, announced a $1.5 million grant is coming to expand the local family financial assistance program called Operation Search and Help.

What is Operation Search and Help?

It’s a program helping families in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties cover the cost of expenses related to medical conditions, behavioral health issues and other special needs.

Operation Search and Help is for families of children and young adults up to 21 years old with special needs, behavioral healthcare needs and chronic medical conditions.

“Our goal is to dramatically expand access to Operation Search and Help,” said Forde. “Many local families have expressed their appreciation for these funds, and we want to extend that benefit to many more families who need help with medical bills.”

According to Forde, the program originally benefited children in Mahoning and parts of Trumbull county, but it’s recently expanded to include all of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Providing ‘last dollar’ assistance

The $1.5 million grant goes toward covering “last dollar” expenses.

“Last dollar” expenses means recipients have already gone through insurance and other community resources before Operation Search and Help stepped in to assist.

They’ll often help reimburse patients for expenses like medication, formulas, supplies, travel to out-of-town medical appointments, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.

The Operation Search and Help program is managed by Potential Development School for Students with Autism, but it was created by the Youngstown Foundation in 1974.

“We sincerely appreciate the Youngstown Foundation’s three-year commitment to help families in need through Operation Search and Help. We are proud of the work that has been accomplished in the Valley and are strengthened by the crucial assistance from the Foundation,” said Shari Nesbitt, grant manager for Operation Search and Help.

Last year, Operation Search and Help supported 370 local families with medical expenses.

Families benefiting from Operation Search and Help

Jayden and his mom, Charitter Brown, are one of the families who are part of the Operation Search and Help program.

Jayden, 18, lives on Youngstown’s east side and is battling spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

“It has been a phenomenal resource,” Charitter said. “There are times when insurance doesn’t cover the treatment and supplies that we need. When I reach out and provide the verification and documentation, [the program] has been there and it helps so much. It’s such a relief to have someone on your side.”

Jessica Blankenship, who lives on the south side of Youngstown, also thanked Operation Search and Help for reimbursements that paid for medical supplies and care for her five children.

Her kids, all under the eight years old, have been diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental delays, lactose intolerance and muscular disorders.

“A lot of the services our kids have needed have been in Cleveland, so it’s a huge help to be able to cover the expenses of going there every week or every other week,” Blankenship said.