Our Mission Statement: To promote and facilitate collaboration among community agencies serving children and their families.
History: Knox County officially formed a local Council in February, 1995 in response to state legislation mandating all 88 Ohio counties to organize a local Council. The authority and responsibility of local Councils is defined in Section 121.37 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Purpose: The purpose of the Ohio Family and Children First Initiative is to streamline and coordinate existing publicly funded services to help families seeking assistance for their children. This initiative is a partnership of government agencies and community organizations committed to improving the well-being of children and families. The focus is on the following shared commitments to child well-being:
- 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 to adulthood
These commitments are used to organize Ohio’s budget and mobilize community partnerships.
Funding: The major source of funding for the Council is through the numerous state and federal grants available to develop and administer specific programs. Several local Council agencies also contribute local dollars to purchase services for multi-need children.
Membership: State statute mandates representation from the following:
At least 3 Family Representatives
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Mental Health and Recovery Board
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County Health Department
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Department of Job & Family Services
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County Board of Developmental Disabilities
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Largest School District
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Other School District Representing the County Schools
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Largest City |
Department of Youth Services
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Local Non-Profit Organization
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County Early Childhood Coordinating Committee |
County Commissioner |
County Head Start Program
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Children’s Services, if not part of DJFS |
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Local membership has been expanded to include the following agencies:
Alcohol and Drug FREEDOM Center
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Community Health Access Project (CHAP)
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Metropolitan Housing Authority
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OSU Extension |
Interchurch Social Services of Knox County, Inc.
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The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon |
The Children’s Connection
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United Way of Knox County |
New Directions Domestic Abuse Shelter |
Mid-Ohio Transit Authority (MOTA) |
Pathways of Central Ohio |
Mental Health America of Knox Co.
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Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc. |
American Red Cross of Knox County |
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The Executive Directors from these agencies sit on the Family and Children First Council.
Meetings: The Council convenes meetings on the third Wednesday of the following months from 1:15 to 3:00 p.m.: February, April, June, August, October, and December. Currently, the meetings are held at the Department of Job and Family Services, Third Floor Conference Room -- East A, 117 East High Street. The meetings are open to the public.
Officers/Executive Committee for fiscal year 2012:
- Jen Odenweller, Council Chair – United Way of Knox County
- Patrick Evans, Vice Chair – Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio, Inc.
- Peg Tazewell, Past Chair – Knox County Head Start, Inc.
- Members of the Executive Committee include the Chair, Vice Chair and Past Chair as well as the following: Dave Hatley, Parent Representative; Mary Hendrickson, New Directions Domestic Abuse Shelter; Steve Short, Mount Vernon City Schools; Steve Oster, Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities; and Nancy Kadunc Omahan, Council Coordinator (Ex-Officio).
Click on the following links for more information:
For more information, contact Nancy Kadunc Omahan, Council Coordinator, at 740 397-5721 x106 or omahannjk@hotmail.com.
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