JOINING FORCES — The Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities is teaming with the Sycamore Youth Center to create the Sycamore Corps S.C.O.R.E. program, mentoring youth 14 to 18 years of age and helping them to grow and develop. Plans are to integrate the youth, giving them the necessary tools to build relationships and possess employment skills. Taking part in building the program are, from left, Randy Cottis, JCBDD business manager; Bobbyjon Bauman, Sycamore Youth Center executive director; and Michael Zinno, JCBDD superintendent. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Sycamore Youth Center are teaming up to provide even more possibilities to engage individuals as they work toward independence.

According to Cookie West, community and public relations specialist for the JCBDD, the S.C.O.R.E. initiative stands for Socialization Skill Development, Community Connections, Olympics and Unified Champion Network, Relationship Management and Employment Skill Development.

S.C.O.R.E. is a mentorship program to help young people in the community grow and develop. It is directed at those who are between the ages of 14 and 18. Its goal is to provide participants with the tools necessary to develop relationship and employment skills, helping them to thrive in the real world.

The program is being facilitated by Amanda Thompson and J.R. Lawrence.

West said the partnership occurred amid conversations between JCBDD officials and Bobbyjon Bauman, pastor and executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center.

Individuals are being sought to get involved, West noted.

“They identified a gap in our services for transitioning youth beyond what we offer in terms of employment and connections,” West explained.

“Because Sycamore can provide more consistent contact, we could collaborate with an outside agency that offers opportunities for direct engagement in social activities, relationship management and employment,” she continued. “This presents an additional chance for skill development — especially since it addresses two major gaps: Social skills and relationship management. Individuals often don’t know how to handle different types of relationships or develop their social skills. Without this, employment and social connections may be hard to establish.”

West noted the collaboration was one way JCBDD could expand its capabilities to serve its clientele.

“The county board is always looking to build its network and build more collaborations and partnerships, so this was a natural fit,” West stated. “There are a lot of students with diverse abilities that attend the program and Sycamore Youth Center is open to all children. It is a learning recreational environment and works with youth as young as kindergarten.”

JCBDD Business Director Randy Cottis said discussions occurred between him, JCBDD Superintendent Michael Zinno, JCBDD Activities Director Steve Forte and Bauman.

Plans were in the works until Forte died over the summer, which temporarily brought discussions to a halt.

Forte had been an integral part of Sycamore Corps and officials wanted to ensure the efforts he helped to develop, continued.

“Steve was involved with Sycamore and we were finding individuals were going to Sycamore Corps and starting to grow and establish friendships,” Cottis commented. “We explored the idea with Bobbyjon of trying to grow that program and Mike Zinno was working with JCBDD to discuss the possibility of opening grant opportunities for community organizations that worked with individuals who have intellectual developmental disabilities.”

“Steve started integrating more of the developmentally-disabled population into Sycamore Corps and Bobbyjon submitted a grant that was approved,” Cottis added.

Efforts began to add staffing, bringing Thompson and Lawrence on board. SCORE was implemented in August.

“We’re looking to identify individuals to be involved with Sycamore Corps,” Cottis stated. “We’re always seeking community partners to help integrate individuals. Whether it’s Sycamore or Unified Champion Schools, we’re consistently working to integrate individuals into their community.”

Bauman said that Sycamore was collaborating with JCBDD to involve youth in programs at Sycamore and in the community.

“We are aiming to increase our efforts and appoint new leaders to assist with this initiative,” Cottis added. “They engage in face-painting activities and go around the community offering face-painting services for donations. Additionally, they have provided free moving services to assist the elderly and those who are infirmed in relocating to homes when they lack the means to do so.”

Another project includes assisting at the Cancer Dietary Initiative at First West Presbyterian Church.

This project is where volunteers donate their time to help place food in boxes and then load the boxes into the recipients’ cars. The assistance is meant to help cancer patients, along with their families.

Another project is performing landscaping services for places such as the Mother of Mercy Home, an extention of the Aim Woman’s Center.

Sycamore Corp engages in two community projects every week, helping participants develop employability skills.

The organization has 25 volunteers who contribute to carpentry work and community service, officials stated.

Forte founded and operated the group for four years. Officials are committed to continuing his legacy.

Bauman said efforts will continue to approach youth about participating in the program, which will meet after school roughly five days a week and on Saturdays.

For information about S.C.O.R.E., contact West at awest@jcbdd.com or Bauman at (740) 409-2986 or sycamorecorps.com.