| People Helping People Help Themselves |
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| The WSOS Press |
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| WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. |
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December 2005/January 2006 |
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New Directions program earns good grades
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| Students, above, celebrate the annual Lights On for After
School awareness in October. |
The New Directions Summer/After School Program (ASP) is an exceptional model for children, according to an evaluation conducted on the program by Dr. Sharon Schuett, an independent evaluator.
The evaluation was conducted as part of the requirement of the 21st Century Learning Centers grant, which funds the program. It was conducted during the first year of the current three-year grant.
"It is recommended that the program continues to function as an exceptional model for children,” Schuett wrote in her report.
Parents and teachers were also interviewed as part of the evaluation, and results of those surveyed also give the program good grades.
A majority of the parents - more than 80 percent of those who responded - believe the program has helped their children both in terms of classroom behavior and class participation. Teachers also report that the majority of the children in the program have either maintained their grades or improved it by at least one letter.
"Our staff works really hard to ensure that the students are getting the full benefit of the program,” said ASP Coordinator Mae Leake, "so it is gratifying to see that the evaluation indicates that we are making a difference.”
Dr. Kim Theller, director of K-12 curriculm and state and federal projects at the Fremont City Schools, said that she also was pleased with the evaluation. "The evaluation indicates that we are doing what we set out to do, and that is good,” Theller said.
New Directions is a partnership of the Fremont City Schools and WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc., with WSOS being the program operator.
WSOS also operates after school programs in Clyde and Fostoria in partnership with the school districts there.
Other partners of the program include the Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services, United Way of Sandusky County, Sandusky County 4-H, Girl Scouts Erie Shores Group, Sandusky County Parks District and Health Department, and Sandusky County commissioners.
Familiar Face
Marley sees board position as opportunity to help her community |
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| BARBARA MARLEY |
Full name: Barbara L. Marley
Address: Fostoria OH
Family: Barbara is single. Her relatives include Dad Francis, a former founding member of WSOS.
Occupation: She has been an attorney in Fostoria for more than 32 years. Barbara has also served as mayor of Fostoria as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Terra Community College located in Fremont. Currently, she is a member of the Fostoria Board of Social Concerns.
Board Status: Barbara joined the board in October to fill a vacant Seneca County seat. She represents the private sector of Seneca County.
Goal as a board member: She said her goal is to see that the social service needs of the WSOS four-county area are met in accordance with the WSOS mission statement.
Interests/Hobbies: Barbara loves to read and garden, but there are also times when she loves to play her banjo and to travel.
| Irene Bandy Hedden award presented to Don Stricker posthumously |
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| Ruthann House, left, displays the award she accepted on behalf of Don Stricker. With her is Roger McCauley of COAD who also received an award for his work with young children. |
Vice President Ruthann House in October accepted the Irene Bandy Hedden Award for Advocacy for Don Stricker, the late president/chief executive officer of WSOS.
The award was one of five awards presented to individuals around the state. Its mission is to honor and promote individuals who support the well-being of children birth to eight years of age within multiple frames that demonstrate leadership, creativity and innovation, accountability and excellence in the field of early childhood education and care. Each year, individuals are honored in five categories - community leader, pedagogical leader, administrative leader, advocacy leader, and conceptual leader.
Long-time friend and peer of Stricker, Roger McCauley, executive director of the Corporation of Appalachian Development (COAD) was also honored at the same time.
"I cannot think of anything better than to be honored at the same time as Don,” McCauley said. "He was an avid advocate for children.”
Stricker was honored for his lobbying efforts to sustain and increase funding for childhood programs as well as his work to bring the after school program to Sandusky County. His efforts to maintain standards for educating young children were also recognized.
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Director's Corner
WIA youth program serving income-eligible youth in three counties |
Work & Wisdom program is supervised by Employment & Training Coordinator Janet Quaintance
The Work and Wisdom program at WSOS is funded by the by Area 7 Workforce Policy Board through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). WSOS has operated youth work programs for at least the past 30 years ranging from CETA, SYETP, JOLI, and now WIA.
Youths in Sandusky, Seneca and Hancock counties enrolled in this program complete 11 service elements of the WIA program during their time in the program. Youths enrolled in this program get a comprehensive assessment, case management, and comprehensive family development. Based on the results of the assessments, each youth is placed in basic skill training to address any deficiencies in math and reading, GED preparation, and vocational and career explorations to determine the appropriate occupational training for the youth. The youth can be participating in career-related internships and on-the-job training while participating in the other aspects of the program.
The program is aimed at income-eligible youths from ages 14 to 21 who have a barrier to employment such as being a school dropout, teen parent, an offender and/or have a documented disability.
Recently, the youths have participated in various activities such as basic skills classes, where youth focus on improving their math and reading levels. Also, they participated in team leadership activities at Camp Glen, Tiffin. They conducted a Hurricane Katrina fund raiser.
They are also involved in an areawide Youth Council, which is comprised of enrolled youths who get together to provide input to the Sandusky-Seneca Youth Council. The council’s aim is to continuously improve the WIA youth services and the delivery of those services.
Editor's note: This column features a different program in each issue. Next will be the Summer/After School program.
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| BG’s preschoolers honor Sen. Gardner at Jordan center |
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| Sen. Gardner, left, and Madison Richter show off the artwork he received. |
Ohio Senator Randy Gardner was honored recently by students in the preschool program of Bowling Green City Schools, located at the WSOS Jordan Family Development Center.
Gardner was instrumental in securing funding to make it possible for the school district to operate the program.
While the students made thumb prints for the picture, Madison Richter wrote the words Thank You to complete the picture, which was presented to Sen. Gardner for his support in making it possible for the program to expand. Teachers framed the artwork and presented it to Gardner at a dedication of the program in October.
BG Schools Superintendent and the superintendent of the Wood County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities participated in the dedication. MRDD also has located its Early Intervention Program at the Jordan center.
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A familiar face
Jessica Heath simply loves everything she does in Seniors Program |
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| JESSICA HEATH |
Full name: Jessica Heath
Address: Fremont OH
Family: Partner Cesar Palacios; sons Sergio, 8, and Nasarios, 1; daughters Miranda, 6, Brionnah, 5, and Viyanca, 3; and the pet iguana, no name.
Occupation: Currently, Jessica is the MIS/Processing clerk in Seniors Program. She joined WSOS in 2001 in Seniors Program and has worked briefly in TRIPS also.
Favorite part of the job: Jessica said it is difficult to choose which part of her job she likes the best because she loves all that she does. "I enjoy everything I do," she said.
Goals: Her main goal right now is her master’s degree in business. She’s currently enrolled in a degree program and hopes to complete it in July 2006.
Interests/Hobbies: Jessica loves flower gardening, horseback riding and collecting animal figurines. However, she also enjoys a good scary movie and identifies herself as a history buff. Anything pertaining to history catches her interest, she said.
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