OACAA Briefing
The latest news from OACAA and Ohio CAAs
 
May 2018 - In This Issue:
Lorain Community Action Celebrates
 52 Years of Service

Jackie Boehnlein Lorain County Community Action Agency President and CEO
Lorain County President and CEO Jackie Boehnlein
 (Source: The Morning Journal)
HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES. 

The Community Action Agency Network is made up of more than 1,100 local, private, non-profit and public agencies, created through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. 

 

Ohio is made up of 48 agencies serving all 88 counties in the state. 

 

Learn more


The Community Action Promise
"Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other."
LATEST BLOG
Leadership Training Series
By: Josh Summer, Development Director

Last year, OCATO partnered with  OSU's John Glenn College of Public Affairs to pilot a leadership training series for Ohio's Community Action Network. Because we received such great feedback from participants, we are bringing it back for 2018! The series, which is suitable for aspiring, emerging, and experienced Community Action leaders, will be tentatively held once per month June through October in the Columbus area. Topics include Understanding Yourself and Others, Incorporating Change, Building Capacity, Leading Performance, and Tying it All Together ...  Read more
Click here to learn how to submit your staff for recognition in OACAA's Staff Spotlight. 
Board of Trustees Meeting
OACAA's next board meeting will be held on June 15, 2018 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Visit our website for location details and for a tentative list of 2018 meetings
NETWORK NEWS
Belmont CAA's Young Adult Program Provides Job Training and Opportunities
(Source:Shelley Hanson The Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register)

Company Donates Truck to Village of Bellaire    The village of Bellaire received a large gift expected to help its workers stay on top of taming the grass and weeds growing on city property this summer.

A local impound lot donated a 1998 Chevy Silverado pickup truck that is being used by village Maintenance Supervisor John Dyer and employee Bobby Landis to transport lawn mowers and weed eaters to and from grass cutting sites in the village.
Bellaire Police Chief Richard  "Dick"  Flanagan said the impound lot company wants to remain anonymous.  Dyer said he was happy have an additional truck to use, since he was sharing another vehicle with the service department. If one were to purchase a Silverado new today, it would cost about $30,000. A used 1998 Silverado could fetch anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000.

"It's only two of us,"  said Dyer.  "We can only get so much so fast. By the time we get it cut, we go back three or four days later and cut it again."   Dyer said crews also plan to reach several village lots that have not been trimmed in years.

"This frees us up,"  he said.  "Before, with the other truck we were using, there were times when (the service garage) would need it back. My understanding is that this is strictly for us to use for grass cutting. It's not a bad truck."  Landis, 19, of Bellaire, is working for the village via the Belmont County Community Action Commission's young adult program. The CAC pays Landis' salary. . .. Read more
May is Community Action Month 
Jackie Boehlein_ Lorain County Community Action President and CEO
OACAA extends sincere congratulations to Lorain County Community Action Agency for 52 years of dedicated service

The Lorain County Community Action Agency is celebrating Community Action Month in May. 

The month will be dedicated to recognizing the successes of the nation network of poverty fighting agencies, according to a news release. 

The organization said America' community action agencies connect millions of children and families to greater opportunity, transforming their lives and making their communities, and the nation stronger.....  Read more
ASSOCIATION UPDATES
2017 State of Poverty in Ohio Report
OACAA released the 2017 State of Poverty in Ohio Report on April 12th during a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse. Read our recent blog by Executive Director Philip Cole to learn more about this year's report. .. Read more

Press Coverage:
Summer Conference registration is now open!
Registration for the 2018 Annual Summer Conference is now open! Visit our new conference webpage for more details including a tentative agenda, tracks, hotel information. We'll see you in July! 
SUCCESSES
Nurturing Motherhood through challenges
No matter how you look at it, parenting is tough. But when you add financial struggles and substance recovery to the challenges of raising three young daughters, it all can become very overwhelming.

Meloney, a Mansfield, Ohio native, was struggling to raise her children while also living in poverty and trying to overcome addiction. She had difficulty maintaining a job, paying her bills, and caring for her children. Though she loved her children, all of the stressors and obstacles that continued to block her path to meaningful steps forward, eventually overcame her and she temporarily lost custody of her children.

But Meloney wasn't ready to give up...  Read more
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