Services

Grandparents Raising Children

The Kinship Permanency Incentive (KPI) program was created to support children in the homes of family or friends who have committed to caring for them when birth parents cannot. KPI provides time-limited incentive payments to families caring for their kin.

For more information, call one of the following:

Ashland County - Children Services: Carrie Riley: 419-282-5087
Crawford County - Children Services: Tina Ditmars: 419-563-1575
Huron County - Children Services: Lisa Albright: 419-663-5437, ext. 3451
Knox County - Job and Family Services: Karen Hessel: 740-397-7177, ext. 3042
Marion County - Children Services: Dan Downes: 740-386-0421
Morrow County - Children Services: Kayla Troiano: 419-949-2630
Richland County - Children Services: Brianne Kindinger or Rhonda Marsh: 419-774-4100
Seneca County - Job and Family Services: Angela Hossler: 419-447-5011, ext. 319
Wyandot County - Children Services/Job and Family Services: Megan Rowe: 419-617-4230

Catalyst Life Services: Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Crisis Services provides comprehensive mental health services for children, adolescents, and their families such as:

Crisis services, including a 24/7 Emergency helpline: 419-522-HELP (4357).

Triple P: Positive Parenting Program, which gives grandparents and other caregivers of children the tools to help manage their child's behavior with confidence, prevent problems from developing, and build strong healthy relationships. For more information, call (419) 774-6866.

Out-Patient Services, including:

Assessment and treatment planning
Individual, group, family, home-based, school, and play and art counseling
Psychiatric and nursing services
Daily living, educational, and community support.

Hospice of North Central Ohio (HNCO) provides care and comfort for those dealing with chronic and terminal illnesses or journeying through the grief process.

HNCO offers grief support for adults, including a monthly support group for grievers of overdose.

HNCO also offers a bereavement camp for children ages 6-17, Camp Hope. Camp Hope helps children and teens through the grief process through:

small group discussions and age-appropriate activities
team-building challenges
arts and crafts
time to just play games and have fun horseback riding, canoeing, and ziplining
interaction with pets
archery and splat ball
a climbing tower.

Support Groups

Richland County: Grandparents raising grandchildren are invited to join a free support group held on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Ontario United Methodist Church on 3450 Park Avenue West, Ontario, Ohio 44906. A meal and childcare are provided at no cost. This is a free event provided by the Ontario Community Partnership.

For questions, please contact:

Pastor Chris Bell - Ontario United Methodist Church 419-529-4345 chrisoumc@gmail.com
Karen Wagenhals - Ontario United Methodist Church 419-612-3410 cosua7@gmail.com
Cathleen Johnson - School Counselor, Ontario Local Schools 419-755-2000 johnson.cathleen@olsohio.org

Crawford County: Grands Raising Grands: A support group that will be held at 6 Public Square, Galion, OH 44833 (2nd Floor-Family Life Counseling). This group is for any grandparent who is raising their grandchild.

The objectives of the group are to:

To engage with other grandparents who are raising grandchildren.
To increase awareness of evidence-based, positive parenting strategies and family dynamics.
To learn stress relieving and coping skills.
To become knowledgeable about resources in the community available to you and your family.

If you are interested, please call Candace at (419) 512-9988 or (567) 560-3582 ext. 2068.

Programs

Richland County: New Destiny is a program at Belmont Community Church. New Destiny meets every Thursday from 6:00-7:45 p.m. at the church. A nutritious meal is provided. The program offers homework help, coping skills, anger management, family skills, crafts, sports, games, and the opportunity for children to talk with someone who will listen. Call (419) 560-8615 for more information.