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LISBON -- It's been said there is no disability in society than its inability to see a person as more. The Work Solutions at the Columbiana County Educational Services Center (CCESC) is doing its part to bring those often looked over into the foreground through its work-related transition department.
On Tuesday, the CCESC board recognized those efforts and congratulated the department, which provides employment services for both Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association (MCTA) and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), on its recently-achieved CARF accreditation.
CARF, established in 1966 as an independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services, stands for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and its mission according to CARF's website is "to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served."
CCESC Superintendent Anna Marie Vaughn said CARF accreditation is not earned easily, it had nothing but praise for transition coordinator Kitty Kromer and her colleagues - Debie Seevers, Mysti Slater and Becky Morris - for the work they put in to achieve it.
"I never understood accreditation in terms of how difficult it is. I used to hear the human services providers in the county talking about having a CARF accreditation coming up and they were always working for a year in preparation for it," she said. "When the opportunity came for us to provide services to students and adults for pre-employment and employment services, Kitty Kromer, along with her team, decided to pursue that opportunity and put in a lot of the hard work to earn accreditation."
Kromer's department at ESC is dedicated to teaching adults and students invaluable social and communication skills they can carry with them into the workforce and throughout their lives. The main goal of Work Solutions is to connect potential employers with employees who face adversity when competing for employment. Ultimately, it's about breaking down barriers, erasing stigmas, encouraging confidence and creating opportunities - for those looking for work and those looking for workers.
"There are opportunities out there but sometimes when you consider the fact that it is somebody with a disability, they may be a bit hesitant," Vaughn said. "And we want businesses to know that there is a whole workforce out there that often goes untapped."
Kromer also used the board meeting as a chance to talk about the Pathways to Careers project - a collaboration between the ESC, Youngstown State University's Excellence Training Center and the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The project recently was awarded a $500,000 grant to increase the participation in and attainment of industry-recognized credentials and apprenticeships for students with disabilities and focuses on current high school seniors and those who graduated in the 2020, 2021 and 2022. An open house is set for May 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the YSU Excellence Training Center Kohli Hall.
"The open house is a great opportunity to actually walk through, see the center and see some of the training," Kromer said. "There is a free assessment that anyone can take to see what their interests and skills are. It's about giving our students with disabilities more opportunities with certificates, accreditations, credentials and apprenticeships."
The board praised Kromer and her team on the difference they are making.
"I want to congratulate you because I think about what a wonderful experience it is for all these young adults and what you are doing for their lives," CCESC board member Marilyn Parkes said. "That is tremendous. It truly is tremendous."
In CCESC business matters, the board approved monthly bills totaling $1,355,445 to be paid, approved service costs for the 2023-24 school year, and approved a donation from Salem Community Foundation for the Project Inspire Drone.
Several superintendent recommendations were approved. They included approving district contracts, the current financials, the 2023-24 work calendar and stipends for the Heads Above the Rest recipients.
In personnel matters, the board agreed to hire Pamela Brown as a paraeducator, Ashley Joy for the CBA work program, Samuel Chick for ESC Work Solutions, paraeducators for the Crestview Summer Program - Christopher McKinnon, Fredda Hawkins and Marcie Swagger and Denise McIntosh as a Title One teacher for East Liverpool Christian School.
selverd@mojonews.com