Children Issues Forum Issues
Children's Forum Issues
The Athens Foundation is conducted the first-ever forum by children's services specialists countywide at 11 a.m. on Wednesday December 12, 2007 at the Athens Public Library on Home Street.
The meeting was designed to ascertain needs of children in Athens County in order to draft guidelines for future Foundation grants.
Judy Millesen, Athens Foundation board member and associate professor of Political Science at Ohio University, was the discussion facilitator. Millesen has done extensive research on fund-raising and foundations professionally and is one of the creators of the Women's Fund, which was launched last year by a dozen women in the county to produce grants to benefit women and children in Athens County through the Foundation.
"The purpose of the meeting is to learn more about the needs of children and how to come to a general consensus about how best to address those needs,” Millesen said.
The forum discussed transportation issues for after-school programs, accessibility of services, teaching socialization in school, providing mental heath intervention to parents, among other issues.
People who play key roles in shaping the lives of children in the county were invited to bring knowledge and ideas to the table. Among those who attended were Cindy Birt, Coordinator, Athens County Family and Children First Council; Peggy Calestro, Vice President, Ohio Children's Foundation; Diana Chalfant, Nurse, Trimble Elementary School; Tracy Galway, Community Relations Coordinator, Athens County Job and Family Services, and Terri Huesman, Director of Programs, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.
Others who attended include Margaret Hutzel, Senior Research Associate, Voinovich School of Leadership; Sister Jane Harrington, Executive Director, Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund; Amy King, Youth Services Coordinator, Athens County Public Libraries; Rebecca Robison-Miller, Executive Director, Athens County Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem Program (CASA/GAL), and Leslie Moss, Executive Director, Kids on Campus.
Andrea Reik, Executive Director, Athens Children’s Services; Cindy Winner, Nelsonville York Schools; Mary Steinmaus, Interim Executive Director, Rural Action; Robert W. Stewart, Administrative Judge, Athens County Juvenile Court, and George Wood, Principal, Federal Hocking Middle School were also present.
Athens Foundation board members in attendance, in addition to Millesen, were Ada Woodson Adams; Dr. James Gaskell, Athens County Health Commissioner; Kristina Gerig, President, East Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization; Carol Kuhre, President, The Athens Foundation; Scott Nisley, Athens City Schools Board Member, and Susan Urano, Executive Director of the Athens Foundation.
Founded in 1982, the Athens Foundation focuses on "enhancing the quality of life for the people in the region through building endowments, awarding grants and providing leadership on key community issues now and for generations to come," according to its mission statement. The Foundation has awarded nearly one million dollars in grants in the past 27 years.
The Athens Foundation is conducted the first-ever forum by children's services specialists countywide at 11 a.m. on Wednesday December 12, 2007 at the Athens Public Library on Home Street.
The meeting was designed to ascertain needs of children in Athens County in order to draft guidelines for future Foundation grants.
Judy Millesen, Athens Foundation board member and associate professor of Political Science at Ohio University, was the discussion facilitator. Millesen has done extensive research on fund-raising and foundations professionally and is one of the creators of the Women's Fund, which was launched last year by a dozen women in the county to produce grants to benefit women and children in Athens County through the Foundation.
"The purpose of the meeting is to learn more about the needs of children and how to come to a general consensus about how best to address those needs,” Millesen said.
The forum discussed transportation issues for after-school programs, accessibility of services, teaching socialization in school, providing mental heath intervention to parents, among other issues.
People who play key roles in shaping the lives of children in the county were invited to bring knowledge and ideas to the table. Among those who attended were Cindy Birt, Coordinator, Athens County Family and Children First Council; Peggy Calestro, Vice President, Ohio Children's Foundation; Diana Chalfant, Nurse, Trimble Elementary School; Tracy Galway, Community Relations Coordinator, Athens County Job and Family Services, and Terri Huesman, Director of Programs, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.
Others who attended include Margaret Hutzel, Senior Research Associate, Voinovich School of Leadership; Sister Jane Harrington, Executive Director, Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund; Amy King, Youth Services Coordinator, Athens County Public Libraries; Rebecca Robison-Miller, Executive Director, Athens County Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem Program (CASA/GAL), and Leslie Moss, Executive Director, Kids on Campus.
Andrea Reik, Executive Director, Athens Children’s Services; Cindy Winner, Nelsonville York Schools; Mary Steinmaus, Interim Executive Director, Rural Action; Robert W. Stewart, Administrative Judge, Athens County Juvenile Court, and George Wood, Principal, Federal Hocking Middle School were also present.
Athens Foundation board members in attendance, in addition to Millesen, were Ada Woodson Adams; Dr. James Gaskell, Athens County Health Commissioner; Kristina Gerig, President, East Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization; Carol Kuhre, President, The Athens Foundation; Scott Nisley, Athens City Schools Board Member, and Susan Urano, Executive Director of the Athens Foundation.
Founded in 1982, the Athens Foundation focuses on "enhancing the quality of life for the people in the region through building endowments, awarding grants and providing leadership on key community issues now and for generations to come," according to its mission statement. The Foundation has awarded nearly one million dollars in grants in the past 27 years.
Nearly 50 Community Leaders Attend
