Family & Children First Projects Francine Bergmoser, Director 4405 Galloway Road, Sandusky, OH 44870 Phone 419-621-3962 Ext. 141  -  Fax 419-625-3448

Welcome Family & Children First Home What's New About Us The Council's History Projects & Programs Council Meetings Care-A-Van General Info. Calendar Help Me Grow Service Coordination/ Wraparound Service Coordination Summary What Is Wraparound Team Meetings FAQ's Forms ABC/FAST ABC Initiative FAST Program FAST Forms Resources                       Improving the Quality of Family Life in Erie County

The Erie County Care-A-Van, a 38-foot mobile Community Resource Center, provides prevention activities to families and children in the neighborhoods in which they live.  In collaboration with over 80 local agencies, the Care-A-Van provides immunizations, parenting information/skill building, health screenings and easy access to agency resources.  The Care-A-Van also provides "Keep Baby Safe" kits, a bicycle Helmet safety program, and a senior safety program.  For more information call:  (419) 621-3962 Ext. 177.   Erie County's Help Me Grow Program provides parent education and service coordination through home visits to pregnant teenagers and families with children ages birth to three years.  The Erie County Health Department, provides a Newborn Home visit to all first time mothers, teen mothers, and mothers requesting a visit within six weeks of the birth of the baby.  For more information call (419) 621-3962 Ext. 171.  Additional information can also be obtained by visiting Ohio's Help Me Grow website.  Click here to view the Help Me Grow Booklet.   Service Coordination and Wraparound is a process which develops and carries out plans for children, individuals and their families who have very complex needs.  Families who have used traditional services may find Wraparound helpful in meeting the family's identified needs.  The Wraparound process is implemented with the involvement of those people important to the family.  Wraparound improves the lives of families by building on their strengths.  It encourages them to make helpful, caring connections in the community.  The Wraparound process ensures that services are focused on the needs of the individual and his family.  For more information call: (410) 621-3962 Ext. 171 or 141.   ABC (Access to Better Care) Initiative is dedicated to improving the coordination, availability and accessibility of behavioral health services (mental health, substance abuse) for children and youth. ABC is aimed at prevention, assessment/early intervention, and treatment services. ABC also focuses on the importance for family involvement and advocacy in service planning and identification. ABC includes numerous projects such as Family and Systems Teams (FAST); Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; School and Community Partnerships; Behavioral Health-Juvenile Justice projects; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants and specific screening tools, including a focus on maternal depression.   FAST (Family and Systems Team) Program is funded by support from the Ohio Departments of Mental Health, Job and Family Services, Youth Services, and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. The Center for Family Research was contracted to these agencies as the evaluator of the FAST Project in order to generate important information about the effective use of state support in meeting the needs of Ohio families containing children and adolescents with significant behavioral health needs.   Shared Beginnings Program Since 2002, our county has had the opportunity to manage a Shared Beginnings Program.  This program offered through the Federal Reading is Fundamental initiative, is designed to help young parents acquire the skills and self confidence they need to take and active role in developing their child’s reading readiness and interest in books and reading.   First and foremost Shared Beginnings seeks to convey to young parents the importance of nurturing the emergent literacy of their infant and toddler.  Through this program our county purchases and distributes over 5,000 books per year to young children and teen parents.   For more information on this program contact: Mary David (419) 602-0150     Erie County Family & Children First Brochure

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Last modified: March 18, 2008