Mercer County Juvenile Advisory Council Inc. and MERLINK announce the new Mercer County Guide to Human Services is active and online.

The online listing of agencies, organizations, churches, schools and groups is searchable by name, services, geographic location and more. The guide includes: agency name, address, phone number, hours of operation, Web site, contact people, services, directions, volunteer opportunities, areas served and affiliations. Information is continuing to be entered into the database.

The public can search the site by logging on to www.merlink.org and clicking on the new searchable health and human services listings. That takes online visitors to the main page where they can choose among three categories: browse all agencies alphabetically, browse service categories, and find local agents and services.

Agencies and organizations listed in the directory will have access to the database through another Internet address and will be given a name and a password so they can keep their information as up-to-date as possible.

Agencies and groups without Internet access can obtain a paper copy of the directory.

Any agency, church, school, organization or group can be listed in the directory for an annual fee that helps offset the cost of maintaining the database. To be included, e-mail: mcjac@nauticom.net.

The project was financed in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.