2010: The year in review
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As 2010 winds down, I'd like to take the opportunity to reflect on this past year. The stresses on our families are great and this certainly can impact the safety of children. We remain committed to our mission: Protecting Children, Strengthening Families and securing Futures.
In 2010, this agency has implemented a new practice, Alternative Response. Athens joined 24 other counties throughout the state using this model. Alternative Response, or AR, allows the agency to approach families at the point of intake in more of a partnership to address the safety issues within the home. AR also supports families having an immediate assess to support services.
ACCS also made a commitment to seek agency accreditation through the Council of Accreditation. This process will take about 18 months and requires the agency to meet national standards relating to child welfare practice, finance, and operation of this public agency. We are expecting to be accredited by the end of 2011.
ACCS staff and Board participated in a three year strategic planning process identifying goals to improve child welfare practice, support staff and better partner with our community.
The agency continues to work very hard to support families to keep children safe. Services that support families, increase parenting skills and address mental health or substance abuse treatment services are integral to our work.
If children cannot remain with a family, the agency has focused on identifying and supporting relatives who care for children. In 2010, ACCS created a new Kinship Caseworker position. The Kinship Casework focuses on the needs of kin placements.
In 2010, ACCS will finalize 22 children in adoptive families! This includes sibling groups with 4 and 5 children. These children will forever be a family group.
Through funding from Project Launch and the US Department of Heath and Human Services, ACCS was able to create an additional School Social Worker for Athens City Schools. This compliments the school social workers in Trimble Local and Federal Hocking Schools.
The final highlight in 2010 was the passage of Issue 1, our 2-mill renewal levy, by a margin of 69%.
Thank you Athens County!
Andrea Reik
Executive Director
Athens County Children Services
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23rd Annual Santa Tree Project
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The Santa Tree project is underway! Over 1400 Athens County children have signed up to receive gifts through the project. This is the highest number of project participants in the history of the Santa Tree.
As is the case every year, ACCS is incredibly lucky to have a host of strong local partners. The following businesses and organizations were kind enough to host public Santa Trees:
The Market on State
O'Bleness Memorial Hospital
Freed Chiropractic
Follett's University Bookstore
We have received cash and gift donations from countless individuals, and local businesses and organizations such as The Us Guys Car Club, who raised $4500 for the Santa Tree at their annual Trail Ride; members of AFSCME 1699, which donated $2500 to the project; and the Sultans of Smack Annual Tailgate Challenge, which raised over $700 as well as an incredible amount of toys. Other generous donations were received from The Dean's Administrative Staff at the OU College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Other Place, Sunpower, The Athens News, and the Morrison Elementary Student Council.
Each year, organizations and businesses come forward to purchase gifts for large groups of children. The OU College of Osteopathic Medicine, St. Paul's and Christ the King Parishes, Federal Hocking High School, Alexander Middle School, Nelsonville-York High School, Athens AM Rotary, County Commissioners Association of Ohio, OU Athletic Department, First United Methodist Church, the Voinovich School of Public Affairs, Hickory Creek, the OU Child Development Center, Athens International Association of Administrative Professionals, OU President's Office, Beta Alpha Psi, Holzer Clinic, Diagnostic Hybrids, and the OU Alumni Association are just a few of the organizations who have come forward to help with this project. The support is, as always, amazing and greatly appreciated.
If you have taken an ornament from the Santa Tree, thank you! Please make sure to drop off your gifts at ACCS offices or the Market on State by Monday, December 13.
Sherri Oliver
PR & Community Events Coordinator
Athens County Children Services
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Girl Power Leadership Conference
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Trimble Middle School Girl Power received a grant from Kiki Magazine for Girls to fund a leadership conference on November 13th and 14th at Burr Oak State Park. The conference was part of a kick-off to a mentorship program and was open to all middle school members, grades 5 - 8. Each Girl Power member was matched with a member of the Ohio University group Future Women of Appalachia. Seventeen girls and their mentors spent the weekend together participating in activities, learning and growing together.
The weekend started with a scavenger hunt around the park, organized by AmeriCorps member, Emily Cline. This was a fun way to bond with their mentors and to begin talking about the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Kerri Shaw, the Trimble school social worker, facilitated a session on Leadership Characteristics. Lynn Smith from the Dairy Barn worked with the girls on a collaborative painting project and Kate Scholl led a fun session about finding your voice and being assertive. Tessa Keller, an eighth grader at TMS, said, "I learned that you have to speak up loudly so people can hear you." Members of FWA facilitated sessions about life maps, goal-setting and obstacles to reaching their goals.
In addition to the workshops, girls enjoyed healthy foods and physical activity by swimming at the lodge and making their own breakfasts in their cabins. Ohio University's College of Osteopathic Medicine provided nutritious snacks and Bridgebuilders provided t-shirts for the participants. Elizabeth Atwell got their blood flowing with a morning yoga session overlooking the lake. Leah Graham from the Sunday Creek Watershed Group worked on trust and boundaries with the girls through outdoor education activities. "You can do anything that you set your mind to and, when you set your mind to it, you have more confidence," says Jessie Ruble, an eighth grade participant who has been in Girl Power since the fifth grade.
The conference was a success. Kerri Shaw, school social worker, noticed that the girls had more self-confidence immediately after the conference. They have also been writing letters regularly to their mentors/pen pals and are planning on visiting them at Ohio University during the winter months."They bound into my office with big smiles on their faces. When they find out they have a letter from their mentor waiting for them, they get excited. It's great that they have someone outside of their immediate world who thinks that they are wonderful young ladies." Many girls have commented on how they are thinking about the steps they need to take to have the future that they envision for themselves.
Kiki Magazine will be compiling leadership activities funded by their grants into a curriculum for girls' programs statewide.
Kerri Shaw
Trimble School Social Worker
Athens County Children Services
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Upcoming Events
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Monday, December 13
Santa Tree gifts are due back to ACCS or The Market on State today!
Tuesday, December 22
Santa Tree public pick-up day
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Contact Information
Sherri Oliver Editor/Public Relations and Community Events Coordinator
Athens County Children Services
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Our Mission
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Protecting Children
Strengthening Families
Securing Futures
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Contact Us
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If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call:
740-592-3061
(M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm)
1-877-477-0772 (After-hours, weekends, holidays)
If you would like more information on foster care and adoption, please call:
740-592-3061 (M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm) |
| Children Waiting | Brittany, Kristina, Angel, and Anthony
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Do you like to play Wii? Does your family enjoy a day at the mall or the park? Then you should definitely meet this sibling group of four. Brittany, Kristina, Angel and Anthony are sure to keep you on your toes playing "Dance Dance Revolution" or going on a shopping adventure. 
Brittany is an independent 16 year old who is the protector and advocate for her family. She is talkative and a pleasure to be around. Kristina is 14 years old, polite and friendly. Kristina gets along well with peers and adults, although she is quiet until she gets to know someone. Angel is a 13 year old who loves playing dance games on Wii and watching movies. Angel is in a wheel chair, a specialized classroom and attends many appointments as she receives OT, PT and speech services. Anthony is the youngest at 12 years of age. He is likeable and has an incredible sense of humor, with a contagious smile.Each child has their own strengths and challenges, but team members believe that this sibling group has potential to shine in a family TOGETHER!Subsidies are available. For more information on Brittany, Kristina, Angel, and Anthony, please visit our website!
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Donation request!
|  Do you have old Christmas/holiday cards that you no longer need? Donate them to Athens County Children Services! Each year, we use the fronts of old cards to make the ornaments for our Santa Tree project. Any donations of cards this year would be greatly appreciated and will be used in our 2011 Santa Tree. Questions? Call Sherri Oliver at 592-3061.
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