Community

Harrison elementary holds successful literacy night

CADIZ -- OhioRISE joined in the educational mission of Literacy Night at Harrison Central Elementary School. Crowds of children and adults attended, with several agencies represented in the gymnasium.

Vicky Filtz, care coordinator with OhioRISE, offered information and answered questions. She was a frequent stop for the young people gathered. The stress balls at her station quickly became the hit of the night for children to bounce and throw through basketball hoops.

"Our main goal is to raise awareness about what OhioRISE is and how to connect with us," she said. "We want the community to understand there are supports available to them, and through that support we can make sure that they're connected with the community resources that are going to service the needs of them as a youth and as a family unit."

OhioRISE is a specialized Ohio Medicaid, managed-care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs. The program operates through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, active in Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Filtz said its goal is to help facilitate services, streamline the processes and reduce the number of meetings families attend. By combining meetings, OhioRISE is able to assist the team supporting the family, helping them to understand how to work together more efficiently. Officials connect with different agencies to make them aware of what OhioRISE offers and the services it provides.

"We're always looking for opportunities to educate our staff about more resources in the community they may or may not already be aware of," Filtz commented.

Megan Smolenak, health commissioner for the Harrison County Health Department, explained during her year in the commissioner's position, she has seen potential in working with OhioRISE.

"I think it's a great program regardless, she said. "I am always advocating for more resources and more things to come to Harrison County. I think it's a great thing we're starting to build that relationship and build that partnership."

Teresa Koniski, director of nursing, agreed, saying, "Typically, Harrison County has trouble obtaining resources, and I think OhioRISE is going to be really great -- connecting families to resources that they need." One common issue in Harrison County is a "transportation barrier. There's not always a lot of things within the county, so you have to go out of the county to different appointments. That's where families run into trouble if they don't have reliable transportation."

Filtz said OhioRISE's care coordinators are adept at helping families navigate the benefits they may have through their managed care organizations, and whether there can be any increases to those benefits through OhioRISE services and enrollment.

"We can actually physically help them -- calling and scheduling that transportation," Filtz stated. "A lot of folks don't know they have the benefits or how to access those benefits."

Smolenak welcomed the discussion. "On our end, we have a resource we can direct people to," she said. "If there is somebody who comes in and asks about certain topics, then we are able to direct them to someone who knows more than what the health department might know, and they can almost close that loop for them."

Stephanie McKinney, assistant principal of pre-kindergarten through third-grade at Harrison Central Elementary, said OhioRISE supervisor Mary Kakascik attended a meeting to discuss a student's individualized education plan. McKinney said, "It was really nice because the parent wasn't sure if they wanted the services or not. She did a wonderful job explaining it. So, it was a great opportunity for the special ed teacher because she wasn't as familiar with it."

Stacie Brown, coordinator for the Family and Children First Council for Belmont and Harrison counties, partners with OhioRISE. "We both provide service coordination for the kids in our areas based on their needs," she said. "We felt we want to fill service gaps in our area and work together with our community partners. There's only one of me and I don't have the volume of care coordinators that OhioRISE has. They take care of a lot more intense children and needs of children and families."

Jackie Dunlap of Cadiz attending with her grandchildren.

"I do think it'll help the children of Harrison County," Dunlap said. "It is a great program. I've been involved in many children's programs to help the county, collaborative and cluster organizations, and this is just a step up. I think the more we can help the children of Harrison County, the better off we will be as a society in the future."

Filtz reflected on a successful night, stating, "I was able to connect with some of the staff here at the school and how to reach out. One of them was asking if it had to be a referral from a provider or a school. We were able to help them understand that anyone can make a referral."

Filtz noted she is available to answer questions about OhioRISE's range of services and how to connect with the program. For information, call (740) 792-4011, through e-mail at ohiorise.info@jcesc.org or visit jcesc.k12.oh.us.