The Mercer County Library System is offering free, confidential social work services to help residents connect with government programs and community resources.
The service is available to anyone seeking help with housing, health care, employment, food assistance, financial resources and other needs, according to the library system.
The library system’s social worker is available for one-on-one appointments to help residents identify appropriate programs, understand available resources and complete applications for benefits and services.
“Our libraries are so much more than just a place to borrow books,” Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said. “They’re centers of our community and trusted spaces where our residents can access a wide range of resources. The MCLS social worker is another innovative step that allows us to better connect our residents with the services they need.”
A graduate-level intern from the Rutgers School of Social Work is also assisting with the program. The internship is intended to expand the library system’s ability to serve residents while providing practical training for future social workers.
Appointments are currently available on select days at the Lawrence Headquarters, Robbinsville and Hightstown branches. The service is expected to become available at the Ewing Branch.
Although the service is open to everyone, appointments primarily focus on programs and resources available in Mercer County.
The library system can help patrons find community resources and navigate available services, but it does not provide medical care, mental health counseling, crisis intervention or legal services. It also cannot guarantee that services offered by outside organizations will be available free of charge.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to resources.mcl.org/social-services.
