OhioRISE Helps Students Create Roadmap for Life
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – OhioRISE was on hand to help students from across Belmont and Harrison Counties plan their futures during the second annual Roadmap to Transition Fair held at Ohio University Eastern Oct. 7.
Jefferson County Educational Service Center (JCESC) OhioRISE is a Medicaid managed care program for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs in Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties and operated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. OhioRISE was formed to coordinate resources and put families in touch with what is available.
According to organizers, the fair expanded this year hosting 57 businesses, agencies and vendors. About 500 students participated.
OhioRISE care coordinator Vicky Filtz took advantage of the excellent opportunity to speak to visitors about the tools OhioRISE can provide and the strong network of local partnerships for resources in a post-secondary setting.
“Making sure that they understand how to get connected with resources that can help prepare them with resume building, with job readiness skills.”
Filtz saw familiar faces.
“It was nice to see some of the kiddos who have been working with the program taking that next step. Some that have moved on from working with us because of the success that they’ve had, being connected to the supports and moving through those different points in their life,” Fitz said.
She introduced them to OhioRISE’s resources for older students.
“Our peer support program is really good for youth at that age making that transition, because they can really go through and discuss how to take that next step with somebody who has walked down the path similar to theirs.”
OhioRISE has forged close ties with programs for job seekers. Jacob Barr, workforce development supervisor with OhioMeansJobs in Harrison County had a good experience with OhioRISE at his previous job working at Harrison County Children’s Services.
“They do a very good job at bridging the gaps of things that we can’t do,” he said. “They’ve helped me with cases for children with disabilities.”
Kathy Klee, workforce mentor with Ohio Means Jobs of Belmont County, also gets referrals of students from OhioRISE for career development and paid work experience.
“I’ve had OhioRISE involved with one of my students and its nice because they’re not only just one aspect of their lives, but they really help in many aspects to prepare them for graduation and adulthood,” she said. “I try to recommend OhioRISE to as many people as I possibly can.”
Cheryl Supanik, director of student services at the Belmont-Harrison Career Center and who serves on the core team organizing the transition fair, collaborates with OhioRISE to form educational plans.
“Here today there are a lot of vendors that these students don’t know are available in the community, and OhioRISE provides us with that information as well, and the students.”
OhioRISE also made some new introductions. Lorie Dowler, Barnesville resident and employee of the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, serves as an educational facilitator at Oakview Juvenile Residential Center in St. Clairsville. She was impressed after a productive conversation with Filtz.
“It sounds like a great program for kids, especially our older youth that sometimes don’t have support at home.”
To learn more about OhioRISE, call 740-792-4011, email ohiorise.info@jcesc.org or visit OhioRISE online .
(OhioRISE press release)
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