Allen County Family and Children First Council Five-Year Report Who are we? Ohio Family and Children First is a partnership of state and local government agencies and community organizations committed to improving the well-being of children and families. The vision of Ohio Family and Children First is enabling every child to succeed by streamlining and coordinating existing government services for families seeking assistance for their children. * Established by section 121.37 of the Ohio Revised Code Our Mission: To initiate, build, and maintain collaborative efforts that support, educate and empower all families toward independence. Our Goals: SERVING FAMILIES THROUGH: Developing programs that support and strengthen families Brokering new sources of funding Facilitating strong community-based collaborations Developing new community-based strategies for success What do we do? We help families receive the services they need. We provide training for those who work with families. We offer opportunities for family service agencies to work TOGETHER to fulfill their separate missions.
Mandated Members of Council: Family Representatives The Superintendent of the Allen County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities The Executive Director of the Allen County Children Services Board The Director of the Allen County Department of Job and Family Services Allen County Juvenile Court Judge The Superintendent of Lima City Schools The Superintendent of Elida Local Schools, representing Allen County Schools And Representatives of: Allen County Consortium of Early Stimulation Services (A.C.C. E.S.S.) Allen County Department of Health Board of Commissioners of Allen County City of Lima Lima-Allen County Head Start Program Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize & Hardin Co. Ohio Department of Youth Services United Way of Greater Lima, Inc. Allen County Family and Children First Council Strengthening Families By Facilitating Community-Based Collaborations: Assisted in planning the implementation of Lima City Schools School Readiness Resource Center initiative funded by the Ohio Department of Education to improve attendance and academic achievement at Faurot and Edison Elementary, South Middle, and Lima Senior High Schools. Facilitated application for Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant that provides intervention for at-risk youth through the partnership of Juvenile Court and South Middle School. Developed a pilot project called Families and Children Together focusing on literacy assistance for low-skilled parents with preschool children. The resulting partnership of LACCA / Head Start, Lima City Schools, the Northwest Ohio Literacy Council, Lima City Schools ABLE/GED and the Ohio State University - Lima, received an EVEN START grant from the Department of Education. This program provides reading, job readiness and parenting skills training and practice for families who have children attending Edison Elementary and the Central Head Start facility. Convened a Teen Parent Task Force, with The Ohio State University- Lima, in response to the need to address the high number of teen parents who were not completing high school. The resulting programs now provide : Case management and supportive services to teen parents to help them stay in school and become self-sufficient. An alternative school for teen parents with on-site infant day care, flexible scheduling, parenting skills modeling/ practice, and many on-site services for parents. These programs are operated jointly by the Lima City and Allen County school systems funded by the Department of Job and Family Services and local and national grants. Spearheaded the formation of a support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. A grant from the Ohio Department of Aging, provides for childcare during meetings. The Grandchildren Raising Grandchildren committee facilitated the application for the Kinship Navigator program, which provides case management and referral services to kin who are caring for children.
Ohio's Six Commitments to Child Well-Being Developed by Governor Bob Taft and Ohio community Stakeholders Expectant parents and newborns thrive Infants and toddlers thrive Children are ready for school Children and youth succeed in school Youth choose healthy behaviors Youth successfully transition into adulthood Lessons Learned: We are more successful together than alone strong partnerships produce effective solutions No one agency has all the answers or all the resources flexible and shared funding increase services Some problems require more than one voice to solve the family is essential for effective decisions
Allen County Family and Children First Council Serving Families by Administering Programs: Welcome Home A free home visit by a registered nurse to each firsttime mother and all teen mothers, within six weeks of baby s birth to answer questions, assess the health of the mother and child and make referrals, if needed. Partners: Lima Memorial Hospital, St. Rita s Medical Center, Allen Co. Health Department, Blanchard Valley Health Association Regional Campus-Bluffton, and Early Start and ACCESS. Early Start Free home visits by nurses or social workers to provide parent education, support and case management for at-risk families with children through their third birthday. Partners: Children s Developmental Center, Inc., Allen County Board of MR/DD, ACCESS, Allen County Health Dept., LACCA, and United Way of Greater Lima. Family Stability Program to provide services to families to reduce the number of out-of home placements of children and youth in Allen County. Wellness Block Grant (WBG) Programs that are targeted to prevent teen pregnancy and to prevent child abuse and neglect in Allen County: Family Fun Time Supporting positive parenting with Early Start parents through monthly activities with their children. Partner: Early Start School Family Night Activities Building better relationships within the family and with the school is the focus of this evening program for families involved with the School Readiness Resource Center initiative. Partner: Lima City Schools. Parenting Classes Classes and support group activities for at-risk young parents working with the Buddy and Baby and You (B.A.B.Y) program. Child care and a meal provide respite and socializing time for parents and their buddies (mentors). Partners: B.A.B.Y and Academic Social Achievement Program (ASAP). Cope-Well for Sibs A support group for siblings of children with disabilities. Partner: The Arc of Allen County. Big Buddies / Little Buddies Teen mentors ( Bigs ) work weekly with little buddies who are elementary age. Homework, games, community service projects, and other activities provide a framework to model positive relationships and healthy lifestyle choices. Partner: Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Allen County. Teen Pregnancy Prevention Educator Brings lessons on decisionmaking, abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases and other topics to middle school and high school students. Partner: YWCA and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force. Allen County Family and Children First Funds June 1996 June 2001 $2,952,324 Other* - $19,000 Administration of Family & Children First Council $93,000 Family Stability $257,884 Welcome Home $117,144 Intersystems Services $312,000 WBG:Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect $72,382 WBG: Teen Pregnancy Prevention $732,600 Early Start $1,348,314 *Other: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - $1,000 HUB Network Grant - $3,000 Implementation Grant - $15,000
Teen Peer Educators Through the use of theater, teens develop and present prevention messages to their peers and the community. Partner: Lima UMADAOP. Rebound III and Reduction thru Redirection Programs to redirect the focus of teen parents involved in high school GRADS programs. The purpose is to prevent or delay subsequent births until education is completed. Partners: Lima City Schools, Apollo Career Center. Sexual Assault Response Support groups for children and teens, who have been sexually assaulted, or have been designated at high risk. Focus is on building healthy relationships and systems of sustained support. Partner: Family Resource Center. Allen County Family and Children First Council Strengthening Families through Successful Strategies: Asset-Building approaches for strengthening families and supporting youth were introduced through Search Institute training. Intersytems Services for Families Family representatives and agencies oversee the coordination of services for our most challenged youth and their families Shared local funding of $118,000 allows Allen County to draw down an additional $194,000 in state funds to provide services for multi-system youth, enabling families to receive the help they need to care for their children in the community Wrap-around workshops assist providers and families in learning to work as a team Early Childhood Conference An annual day-long training held on the Ohio State University Lima Campus for Northwest Ohio professionals working with children aged birth to five. Friday Forums A monthly cross-systems training for front-line staff from all agencies. Family Support Providing a strong voice for families, Building Effective Parent/Professional Partnerships workshops, and Parent Support and Education Resource Directory. Independent Living Published a resource guide for agency staff to use in assisting youth transition to independent living. The office of Allen County Family and Children First Council is located with the Allen County Board of Commissioners, which provides administrative support, and serves as the fiscal agent for over $500,000 in state funds the Council receives annually. Community Members: Allen County Council on Aging Allen County Child Support Enforcement Agency Allen/Lima Leadership Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Allen County Care Link Services Children s Developmental Center of Lima, Inc. Crime Victim Services Crossroads Crisis Center, Inc. Easter Seals Family Resource Center Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge, Inc. Healthy People 2010 Lima / Allen Council on Community Affairs (LACCA) Lima Memorial Hospital Lima Urban Minority Alcohol and Drug Abuse Outreach Program, Inc. (UMADAOP) Northwest Ohio Literacy Council Ohio State University Extension Project Impact Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) Social Security Administration St. Rita s Medical Center The Arc of Allen County The Ohio State University Lima Tri*Star Community Counseling West Central Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children West Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center Y.W.C.A. of Lima
Allen County Family and Children First Council 301 North Main Street, 3 rd Floor Lima, Ohio 45801 "You were there when we were desperate and I really appreciate it." - a mother. A Five-Year Report to the Community "The coordination, which also reduces duplication, is one of the primary benefits. We had to deal with various services, and each agency had its own plan. Now the agencies work together using a wrap-around approach to service delivery and that makes so much more sense." Linda Kayser, Family Representative Council Coordinator: Betty Bowers bbowers@allencountyohio.com Assistant Coordinator: Mary Early mearly@allencountyohio.com Phone: 223-8532, FAX: 224-0183 www.co.allen.oh.us/fcfc Established by section 121.37 of the Ohio Revised Code Allen County Family and Children First Council P.O. Box 1243, 3 rd Floor, Courthouse Lima, OH 45802