With social distancing measures in place, many organizations have implemented virtual and remote services to support the health and social needs of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than two-thirds of service providers in Community Solutions’ COVID-19 survey reported shifting their in-person work with clients to phone or video chat. We’ve seen more expansion...
Category: Strengthening the HHS Safety Net
May 11, 2020
Grocery shopping alternatives are great, unless you have SNAP
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) began, customers across the country have been utilizing the convenience of online shopping for more than just clothes and shoes. Online shopping has become one of the most popular ways to obtain food and household essentials as it allows customers to adhere to social distancing guidelines and...
May 5, 2020
The ever-expanding role of the American educator
By: Aaron Muttillo, Ph.D. Director, Day Treatment Centers Positive Education Program An educator’s role will always be multifaceted because of the complex, dynamic nature of a growing child. Most educators now embrace a whole-student approach to teaching, one that places great value on activities that address a child’s social and emotional development. As educators consider all...
May 5, 2020
Friday webinar series recap: How counties & case workers are responding to COVID-19
The Center for Community Solutions, in partnership with Advocates for Ohio’s Future, hosted speakers from various family service agencies from across the state in a May 1 webinar. The topic of discussion was the impact COVID-19 has had on some of the state’s largest social programs and services and how those organizations have managed thus...
April 24, 2020
Congregate living in the time of COVID-19
Ohio recently emerged as having, at least for a moment in time, the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. The outbreak occurred in the Marion Correctional Institution in which 80 percent of inmates have tested positive. Many of them are asymptomatic. Marion is not the only correctional facility with an outbreak, at the time...
April 17, 2020
Letter to Ohio’s General Assembly
As we all begin to focus on the state’s recovery, we want to ensure that health and human services are included in this discourse, as a strong safety net is the backbone of a healthy economy and a healthy workforce. The Center for Community Solutions has a longstanding relationship with policymakers on both sides of...
April 10, 2020
Coronavirus and child welfare
In a previous piece, I highlighted the challenges of preparing for parenthood under the extenuating circumstances a pandemic provides, however, many alternative challenges endure for existing families who may be struggling to reunite or stay together. In light of the opioid use epidemic, every stage of the child welfare system in nearly every state has...
April 8, 2020
Pandemic EBT: What it would provide for Ohio’s school children
More than 717,000, or more than 1 in 4 Ohio children no longer have access to free or reduced-priced meals that had been offered during the school day prior to the COVID-19 epidemic. Since all Ohio schools have been closed since March 16 in response to the pandemic, these children and their families have endured...
April 7, 2020
SNAP during COVID-19
April 1, 2020
409 lab-confirmed cases in Cuyahoga County, death total doubles to 8 since Monday
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The health commissioner for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Terry Allan, opened the Wednesday, April 1 press conference by sharing stories about people in Cuyahoga County finding ways to communicate with their family...