Greenleaf Family Center

COUNSELING, EDUCATION, & SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, THE DEAF, AND PREGNANT/PARENTING FAMILIES.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) SERVICES PROVIDES COUNSELING BY USING EVIDENCED-BASED BEST PRACTICES (EBP) TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH CHALLENGES OF MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, POVERTY, DIVERSITY, AND LIFE'S EVERYDAY STRUGGLES. EBP PRACTICES INCLUDE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, EYE MOVEMENT DE-SENSITIZATION AND RE-PROCESSING (EMDR) AND FEEDBACK INFORMED TREATMENT (FIT) FOR OUTCOMES AND CLIENT ENGAGEMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES, FAMILY AND GROUP COUNSELING. A BIO-PSYCH-SOCIAL MODEL AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO TREATING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE UTILIZED FOR INTERVENTIONS. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PARENTING AND ANGER MANAGEMENT GROUPS. COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN A SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM AT COVENTRY LOCAL SCHOOLS. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUMMIT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS WITH INTERVENTION IN LIEU OF CONVICTION ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. IN 2020 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUED TO EVALUATE PROGRAM NEEDS. WE SAW A BIG SHIFT IN THE WAY WE DELIVERED SERVICES DUE TO COVID-19. WE STARTED UTILIZING TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL OUR PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT 2020 WE UTILIZED BOTH IN PERSON AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES TO BEST SERVE THE CLIENTS.

COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR AND OF THE DEAF (CSD) SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, DEAFBLIND, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING LOSS IN SUMMIT, PORTAGE, MEDINA, WAYNE, AND HOLMES COUNTIES. IN 2020, CSD CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OVER 9,500 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE TO DEAF, DEAFBLIND, AND THE HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY. CSD SERVICES INCLUDE 24/7 AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING, ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES, HEARING LOSS RESOURCES, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES, CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING, AND TRAINING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON DEAF CULTURE. ONGOING CSD GOALS INCLUDE A GREATER ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR THE HARD OF HEARING POPULATION, INCREASED SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY, AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

MOMS AND BABIES FIRST: OHIO'S BLACK INFANT VITALITY PROGRAM HELPS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT BABIES AND INFANT DEATHS WITHIN THE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES OF SUMMIT COUNTY. OUR CERTIFIED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS CONDUCT REGULARLY SCHEDULED HOME VISITS, EDUCATE CLIENTS ON PRENATAL/POSTPARTUM CARE USING THE PARTNERS FOR A HEALTHY BABY HOME VISITING CURRICULUM. THE CHW'S WORK WITH THEIR FAMILIES UNTIL THE CHILD TURNS ONE. THE GOAL OF THE MOMS AND BABIES FIRST PROGRAM IS TO TARGET WOMEN EARLY IN THEIR PREGNANCIES (PREFERABLY FIRST TRIMESTER) WHO MAY HAVE RISK FACTORS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOMES. THESE RISK FACTORS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO AGE, PREVIOUS PREGNANCY WITH POOR OUTCOME, HOMELESSNESS, LOW INCOME, UNDER/UNINSURED, POOR NUTRITION, SMOKING, ABUSE, ETC. A RISK ASSESSMENT WILL BE DONE PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT INTO THE PROGRAM.IN MARCH OF 2020, THE MOMS AND BABIES FIRST PROGRAM SUSPENDED FACE TO FACE VISITATION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THE MABF PROGRAM HAS REMAINED AT OUR FULL CAPACITY, 85 FAMILIES.

GREENLEAF FAMILY CENTER ALSO OFFERS FIVE OTHER PROGRAMS: ADOLESCENT SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM (ASPP) - ASPP IS A SCHOOL-BASED UNIVERSAL SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT STRIVES TO REDUCE SUICIDE AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG YOUTH IN SUMMIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS BY EDUCATING YOUTH AND CARING ADULTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, DEPRESSION, SUICIDE, HELP-SEEKING SKILLS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND WORKS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES THE EVIDENCE-BASED SOS SIGNS OF SUICIDE CURRICULUM. ASPP PROVIDES PROGRAMMING TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE GATEKEEPER TRAININGS FOR SCHOOL STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS UTILIZING THE QUESTION, PERSUADE, AND REFER (QPR) CURRICULUM.SERVICES FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR WERE DISRUPTED WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSED IN EARLY MARCH DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ASPP STILL PROVIDED SERVICES TO 8,545 STUDENTS (7,748 UNDUPLICATED). 1,101 ADULTS WERE ALSO SERVED, INCLUDING 539 TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF WHO RECEIVED QPR TRAINING IN ONE OF 9 QPR PRESENTATIONS.THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM: FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH 10-14 (SFP 10-14) IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH 10-14 YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM COORDINATES WITH LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE A TWO AND A HALF HOUR, SEVEN-SESSION SERIES FOR FAMILIES. SESSIONS INCLUDE A FAMILY DINNER, CONCURRENT PARENT AND YOUTH SESSIONS, CONCLUDING WITH FAMILY ACTIVITIES. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE DELAYED ONSET OF ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE, INCREASED PARENTING SKILLS AND FAMILY BONDING, INCREASED RESISTANCE TO PEER PRESSURE IN YOUTH, AND REDUCED LEVELS OF AGGRESSION AND CONDUCT PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL.DURING 2020, SFP PROGRAMMING WAS DISRUPTED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THREE SERIES SERVING 15 FAMILIES/46 INDIVIDUALS WERE INTERRUPTED AND UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED. THE PROGRAM WAS TRANSITIONED TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM IN THE FALL, BUT THE ONE SERIES WAS ALSO UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED.PARENT EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT (PEERS): PEERS PROVIDES PARENT ADVOCATES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO SUPPORT PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS AND ARE INVOLVED WITH MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF CARE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR PARENTS TO FEEL EDUCATED AND EMPOWERED TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, ENABLING THEM TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS REGARDING THEIR CHILD'S CARE. PARENT ADVOCATES CAN EDUCATE PARENTS REGARDING CHILD AND PARENT RIGHTS AS WELL AS THE PROCESSES OF VARIOUS COMMUNITY SYSTEMS; PROVIDE RESOURCE INFORMATION; MODEL EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS; AND SUPPORT PARENTS THROUGH COMMUNITY MEETINGS SUCH AS IEP MEETINGS AND JUVENILE COURT HEARINGS. IN 2020, PEERS SERVICES TRANSITIONED TO REMOTE SERVICES DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. PEERS WAS STILL ABLE TO BENEFIT 154 CHILDREN THROUGH SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THEIR PARENTS, IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.DJFS SINGLE AND TWO PARENT CASE MANAGEMENT: GREENLEAF PROVIDES A CASE MANAGER AT THE SUMMIT COUNTY DJFS JOB CENTER TO ASSIST TANF CLIENTS IN IDENTIFYING AND ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO MEETING WORK REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR BENEFITS AND AVOID SANCTIONS. DUE TO CHANGES AT DJFS RESULTING FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THIS PROGRAM WAS DISCONTINUED COMPLETELY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS DURING 2020 AND SERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED NUMBER OF CLIENTS IN A VERY LIMITED CAPACITY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AS DJFS RESTRUCTURED THEIR INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND DID NOT SEE CLIENTS IN PERSON.CELEBRATING FAMILIES! (CF!): CF! IS A FAMILY-BASED DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE PARENTS IN RECOVERY. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DUE TO THEIR FAMILY HISTORY. GREENLEAF'S PROGRAM FOCUSES UPON CHILDREN 0-12 YEARS OF AGE. THE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM IS 16 SESSIONS LONG AND PROVIDES A FAMILY DINNER, AGE-BASED EDUCATION/SKILL-BUILDING SESSIONS, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES. THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES ARE REFERRED BY LOCAL DRUG COURT PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM IS FACILITATED BY PREVENTION SPECIALISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AT A LOCAL CHURCH.CF! WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROGRAM SERIES SERVING FIVE FAMILIES OF 19 INDIVIDUALS WHEN PROGRAMMING WAS DISRUPTED DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. PROGRAM MATERIALS/ACTIVITIES CONTINUED TO BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE PROGRAM PERIOD. CF! TRANSITIONED TO A VIRTUAL PROGRAM FORMAT FOR THE FALL OF 2020 BUT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS DID NOT RESULT IN FAMILIES ABLE TO COMMIT TO 16 WEEKS OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AT THAT TIME.