February 2012 Minutes

                                                           

 Collaborative Meeting Minutes

February 23, 2012 ~ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Woman’s Club Pavilion, Lakewood Par

Our Mission:

“The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a group of agencies, organizations and concerned individuals working together to make sure a network of services and supports are available and accessible to children, youth and families.”

 

Welcome/Introductions – Bruce Chamberlin welcomed everyone.  Collab attendees introduced themselves.

 

Spotlight and Discussion – Mandy Mehlman, Housing Research and Advocacy Center  –

The Housing Center is a not-for-profit fair housing/fair lending agency whose mission is to promote fair housing and diverse communities, and to work to eliminate housing discrimination and assure choice in Northeast Ohio by providing effective research, education and advocacy.

There are Federal and/or state fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination in housing transactions based on: race, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, familial status (presence of children under the age of 18), and military status.  Lakewood has additional local fair housing laws that protect against: gender identity and sexual orientation.

For assistance, contact the Housing Center @ 216-361-9240.  You can also contact the Oho Civil Rights Commission at 1-888-278-7101 or online @ http://www.crc.ohio.gov.

Upcoming Events – 7th Annual Fair Housing Celebration, Thursday, April 12, 5:30-7:30 pm, @ The Ballroom at the CSU Student Center.  The Housing Center Youth Art Exhibition Contest: Submission Deadline is 4 pm, Monday, March 26.

 Table Discussion –

1) How can the Housing Center be supportive of your clients/residents?

2) The Housing Center would like to expand our outreach to immigrant populations, are there strategies other agencies have used in the past or opportunities to partner with organizations currently doing this work?

Responses:

*Make education info available @ libraries, schools, foster care agencies, and churches.

*Get information to schools and other places where immigrant children are going to be.

*Have someone available to answer the phone and work with people who are having housing issues.

*Enlist volunteers who speak different languages.

*Work with young adults who age-out of foster care.

*Partner with Catholic Charities.

*Partner with Asia Inc.

*Partner with leaders of refugee/immigrant communities.

 

Announcements –

 

*Employment and Family Services – Polaris Westshore Career Fair:  Wednesday, March 28, 10 am – 2 pm, @ Polaris Career Center.  More info: http://www.employment.cuyahogacounty.us or 216.987.7010.

 

 

*Berea Children’s Home and Family Services – More info: http://www.bchfs.org

            *New Name coming in March

            *Foster Care Information Night: Tuesday, March 13

            *Pack the Q for Foster Care – Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls: Friday, March 2

 

*Cuyahoga Suicide Task Force – recently did a survey targeting faith communities; and will be providing a free training seminar in the future.

 

*Lakewood Kiwanis – All-You-Can-Eat-Spaghetti Dinner at Lakewood Masonic Temple, Saturday, March 3, 4 – 7 pm, $8, ages 5 & under FREE.  http://www.lkwdpl.org/kiwanis/

 

*Lakewood Division of Early Childhood – The Family Room has moved locations to Lakewood United Methodist Church.  Toni Gelsomino’s office has moved to Fedor Manor.  onelakewood.com/HumanServices/EarlyChildhood

 

*The Gathering Place – Roll The Dice at Crocker Cooks Casino Night, Saturday, March 10, @ Urban Active in Crocker Park.  http://www.touchedbycancer.org or 216.595.9546.

 

*Ranger360 – Waiting on budget from Federal Government.  Will be developing a Collab sub-committee.

 

*Applewood Centers – Therapeutic After School Program for children with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties.  http://www.applewoodcenters.org or 216.521.6511

 

*Lakewood United Methodist Church – hosting Speaker Series “Who Is My Neighbor?” March 14, 21, 28.  http://www.lkwdumc.org

 

*Lakewood Community Services Center – Thanks to Collab for the donated items brought to the meeting.  You can donate items anytime at LCSC.  Free Farmers Market the 1st Tuesday of every month, 10 am – 1 pm, in back parking lot, beginning in March.  http://www.lcsclakewood.org

 

*Cleveland Food Bank – Outreach Team has expanded to four employees.  Trying to be accessible and available to assist people in seeing if they are eligible for food stamps and other resources.  Available to attend any event/health fair.  Working on dates to visit private businesses, libraries, and churches.  www.clevelandfoodbank.org

 

*West Side Ecumenical Ministry (WSEM) – Serving pregnant moms, and children ages 0-5.  Early Head Start and Head Start.  Now enrolling children.  County Vouchers accepted.  Offer bi-lingual classrooms and accommodate all special needs.  Foster Families automatically qualify for Head Start.  http://www.wsem.org or 216.961.2997  

 

*Live Well Lakewood – Eat Well Lakewood: March 10, 12:30 – 4 pm, @ Lakewood High School.  http://www.livewelllakewood.org

 

Committee Reports –

 

Adoption/Foster Care – Colleen McNamara, Chair

colleen.mcnamara@lakewoodoh.net or 216.529.6873

1.  Meeting on Monday, March 5, 6:30 pm

2.  Working with H2O and Peter Jones on collecting supplies for young adults who have aged-out of foster care.  Beginning Monday, February 27, collection tubs will be at Lkwd Fire Stations and PNC.

3.  Will be collecting items at the March Collab Meeting.

 

School Supplies Initiative – Karen Lee, Chair

lkwdschoolsupplies@gmail.com or 221.2295

1.  Already talking with schools and working on prep for this summer.

 

Membership – Toni Gelsomino, Chair

antoinette.gelsomino@lakewoodoh.net

1.  Thanks for filling out forms, hopefully everyone is getting emails.

 

 

All were thanked for a great meeting!  Next meeting is Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 1pm.