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Stories of Impact 2008

United Way of Greater Stark County seeks to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways by mobilizing thousands of people around a common goal: advancing the common good by focusing on education, income and health. United Way believes these are the building blocks for a good life and that a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, a safe place to live and good health.

United Way of Greater Stark County focuses its attention on the root causes of these issues through their focus on programs that target Early Education & Care, Graduation & Training and Family Stability.

AHEAD Foundation guides students toward successful school year

(Canton, OH) October 20, 2008 — The school year has only just begun and AHEAD Foundation director, Vanessa Stergios, is already rolling up her sleeves and aid students and their families in whatever way she can to give them an opportunity for a successful year ... read more.

Interfaith Child Development Center’s Child Care program focuses on each child’s success

(Canton, OH) August 11, 2008 — There is a need in the Alliance community for quality, affordable and educational child care, as evidenced in the year-long waiting list Interfaith Child Development Center has experienced this past year. At any given time, 20 to 30 Alliance-area children and their families are waiting to be enrolled in programming that has already earned two stars in Step Up to Quality through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and will soon apply for their third star – the highest ranking in the state – in upcoming weeks ... read more.

Massillon YWCA Child Development program enhances education opportunities for children

(Canton, OH) August 11, 2008 — For some families, staying at home to watch their children and giving up that paycheck ends up being more cost-effective than enrolling a child in daycare. The Massillon YWCA seeks to change that and provides quality care and educational opportunities for those enrolled ... read more.

J.R. Coleman Child Care promotes early learning

(Canton, OH) August 11, 2008 — There is a lot of joy at J.R. Coleman Child Care and Family Center, according to Cathy Toth, assistant director of development for the organization. Currently, 268 children ages six weeks to 12 years are taking part in action-packed activities this summer at the facility ... read more.

Alliance YWCA Adult Services program focuses on stabilizing lives, enabling change

(Canton, OH) June 27, 2008 — It’s amazing what a woman can do if given the tools to get her feet back under her, according Gloria Whiteley-Magrath, Executive Director of the Alliance YWCA, who sees it often through the organization’s Adult Services program – a program that supports the efforts of women to gain the resources necessary to achieve family and financial stability ... read more.

Western Stark Emergency Housing program provides more than shelter

(Canton, OH) June 27, 2008 — It is more than just a shelter. The four walls of the Domestic Violence Project, Inc.’s facility in Massillon have lent an ear to many since it moved from its Lincoln Way location in 2005. The new home for the shelter provides not only a safe place to live, but counseling opportunities and legal advocacy for women who desperately need a change – allowing them to dig down to the deep roots and causes of domestic violence ... read more.

Mother Mentor program promotes positive parenting skills

(Canton, OH) June 27, 2008 — The goal of the Mother Mentor Program is simple: To establish a support program for teen mothers through the use of volunteers. To do this, the program, through Families First, seeks out caring, sensitive, non-judgmental women who are willing to commit to one year’s worth of enriching the life of a teen and her child. With the one-on-one relationship between volunteer and teen, some of the stresses of parenthood can be lessened and important life lessons can be passed from one generation to the next ... read more.

Stories of Impact 2007

Stark County Childhood Resiliency Program addresses mental health issues in young children

Social and emotional challenges are difficult to handle at any age. For infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers, every day challenges present great opportunities to begin to develop social and emotional competencies to last a lifetime.

The Stark County Childhood Resiliency Program is an early childhood consultation and social and emotional skills promotion program for young children, ages two through six, their families, and childcare providers. The program was launched in 2003 by The Early Childhood Collaborative – a committee of the Stark County Family Council, the Stark County Community Mental Health Board, childcare providers and mental health providers...read more.

YWCA Child Care program allows young mother freedom to return to school

McKiea wasn’t born into this world with silver spoon in hand.

However, with help from the Canton YWCA’s child care programs, McKiea has been victorious in her goals and aspirations for she and her two-year-old son, Gavin, through attaining her GED...read more.

Interfaith programs offer children quality, affordable child care

Say "hello" to Bri’onna while she’s playing with building blocks and chances are she’ll smile shyly up at you from a bright mat on the gym floor of Interfaith Child Development Center in Alliance. She may dart around the room with an apron across her back, pretending to be a super hero. She may laugh and giggle with other children – part of the two and three-year-olds class – as they feverishly peddle their tricycles and big wheels back and forth, back and forth....read more.

 

Mother Mentor program works with young mothers, children

Sisters Jessika and Ivana rarely miss a meeting with Shirley, their mentor in Families First of Stark County’s Mother Mentor Program.

Nearly every week they bring their toddlers, 15-month-old Ajyahne and 15-month-old Treshawn to events – from scrap-booking to dinner to mother-daughter teas – to meet with their mother-mentor, Shirley...read more.

Families Under Stress program allows daughter to reconnect with mother

With a little help from Massillon YWCA’s Families Under Stress program, 21-year-old Tina has been able to maintain a relationship with her mother.

Tina began to have supervised visits with her mother at the YWCA through the Families Under Stress program when...read more.

Increased focus on prevention is focus of Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter programs

There is a new tone at the Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter as its new director, Kim Stanley, seeks to educate the community on signs of domestic abuse and prevention strategies.

The shift has come with staff changes that have occurred within the last year, and, though the shelter is still running at full or nearly full capacity, Kim is hopeful that such strategies will result in a decrease in...read more.

Parenting Skills program provides needed tools for Stark County families

For mothers like Brenda, sometimes court-ordered programs like Goodwill Industries of East Central Ohio’s Parenting Skills Training program and Home Based Parenting program are the only lifeline keeping a family together... read more.

 

CARE Team is proven program throughout Stark County school districts

One local program has generated interest not only within Stark County, but at the state and federal levels as well.

The CARE Team, which originated in the Fairless Local School District, is a team of multi-disciplinary professionals working together to address the obstacles facing students and their families. The objectives of this team are to assist students and their families to overcome obstacles that could prevent educational success...read more.

Boys & Girls Club of Massillon programs help teach youth life lessons

Sometimes boys will be boys, as is the case with nearly-nine-year-old David and his brother, 10-year-old Alphonso, both active members of the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon as they eagerly discussed their club experiences with endearing, yet ornery, twinkles in their eyes.

They are currently involved in the Kid Stop Summer program where they spend their days playing basketball and football or walking across the street to the park to collect insects and take pictures of the different...read more.

 

Baby Think it Over offers teen girls motherhood experience

Teenage girls across Stark County are getting a sneak peek into the world of motherhood.

The Girl Scouts Great Trail Council began to offer the Baby Think It Over program several years ago to promote good decision making. In addressing pregnancy and parenting concerns, the program focuses on underlying causes of the problem, such as poor self-esteem, confused values, lack of positive role-models and the perception of limited opportunities in life....read more.

Stark County Teen Court provides peer-to-peer approach to juvenile court

Stark County teens are finding a second chance, in some cases, to right their wrongs.

Stark County Teen Court has heard more than 2,300 cases of juveniles charged with delinquency or other offenses since it began in 1996. Teen Court has been in Stark County for more than 10 years and provides an alternative to traditional juvenile court proceedings for fi rst time, non-violent offenders to be sentenced by other teens who have been trained to participate in all aspects of juvenile court. The program is based on the premise that young people respond positively to the influences of their peers....read more.

 

Ways to Work program offers solutions to Stark County families

A Stark County program is changing the way people respond when unexpected expenses threaten to disrupt their lives.

Trillium Family Solutions Ways to Work program provides low-income families with financial assistance through small, short-term loans when such expenses arise so they can continue to work and support their children...read more.

YWCA of Alliance provides women the tools to success

The Adult Services programs at the Alliance YWCA are all designed with one end-goal in mind: to help Stark County women get back on their feet.

Through the program, women are provided with a safe place to live through a transitional housing program, clothing through the Women’s Clothes Closet, if needed, and just about any other service necessary to help women ....read more.

 

Shelter provides home and hope for Stark County resident

She survived hurricanes in Florida and Louisiana and decided enough was enough. She came home to Ohio.

Health problems and nearly a dozen surgeries forced Deb to quit working once she moved to Stark County. She then spent the next several months living with a cousin, sleeping on an air mattress on the floor...read more.

 

Arthritis program helps build mobility and friendships for area seniors

Hundreds of individuals suffering with arthritis in Stark County and Northeast Ohio are finding the relief they need through the Arthritis Foundation Northeast Ohio Chapter’s Chronic Disease Control programs.

This year, United Way of Greater Stark County is investing more than $414,000 into programs that allow those with disabilities and senior citizens to maximize their ability to live in a safe environment with independence and dignity. One such program is the Chronic Disease Control program....read more.

 

Health Services program provides care to uninsured, underinsured

Hundreds of thank-you letters can be found in the offices of Planned Parenthood of Stark County, most of them thanking the staff for treating clients with dignity and respect and for providing services on a sliding fee scale.

“As long as we’re receiving those letters, we’re serving a need in the community,” said Elizabeth Bowen, regional director of development for the newly created Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio...read more.

 

 
     
© 2008 United Way of Greater Stark County 4825 Higbee Ave. NW, Canton OH 44718 330-491-0445