Photo Provided Bridgeport Elementary Principal Kamaron Sabinski, center, joins Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley, left, in welcoming the OhioRISE program to an on-campus office. OhioRISE care coordinator supervisor Courtney Mason tours the facilities.

BRIDGEPORT — The OhioRISE program has a home in Bridgeport Exempted Village School District.

The strengthened partnership promises to help OhioRISE’s mission of bringing services to Belmont County children, with the school district as a hub of resources benefitting Bridgeport and beyond.

Jefferson County Educational Service Center OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) 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.

In late April, the board of education finalized an agreement for OhioRISE to rent office space at the district facilities.

Superintendent Brent Ripley met with care coordinator supervisor Courtney Mason on Aug. 2 and showed her the new office space. They also went over school procedures.

OhioRISE care coordinators work with youth ages birth through 21, as well as parents and families. More than a dozen care coordinators work in Belmont County, where the program helps about 100 young people. The number is growing as more referrals come in.

Mason said she expects as many as five coordinators to be at the office at any one time. She said the Bridgeport campus affords opportunities for care coordinators to meet and collaborate closely as their caseloads demand, and to use the space during different hours. The office is also conveniently located for nearby families.

“Care coordinators will rotate in and out of the office just because all the care coordinators’ schedules are so different. They will have some time they might need to meet with families, or just to go into an office space to do any of their work.”

She anticipates OhioRISE moving into the office as soon as possible.

“Having an office in Bridgeport and Belmont County is going to be great to have the ability to meet with our members that our local to this area as a safe space, and to have a place where our care coordinators can go to do their work that’s closer to home as well, to get those community partner relationships strengthened.”

Mason herself is from nearby Harrison County and is familiar with Ripley and the people of Belmont County. She said the Bridgeport school district and OhioRISE are a good fit.

“They have been very accommodating to what we need,” she said. “We’re very thankful to be able to have this building space to work.”

The office also signifies the growing role of OhioRISE in the area.

“We’re definitely expanding with offices in multiple counties at this point,” Mason noted.

OhioRISE’s philosophy calls for building long-term relationships with families through the child’s stages of life, and coordinating services to “wrap around” the children.

Ripley said OhioRISE has been a boon to the community.

“They’re doing a lot of good for people,” he noted.

He said this strengthened partnership coincides with a major expansion project. The district was recently awarded state grant funding of $13.8 million for the construction of a community innovation hub for education, health and community uses. Ripley expects OhioRISE to be a perfect fit.

“As we move into the plan for the grant, we’re bringing in OhioRISE. We want to start it now and establish those relationships with community members. OhioRISE can help people throughout Belmont County right now, so that when we go into the building that process is fluid and everything is well-established,” Ripley said.

Mason also met with elementary Principal Kamaron Sabinski, who said this marked an incredible opportunity for Bridgeport and surrounding communities.

Bridgeport students will be heading back to school Aug. 21. The district campus is located at 55781 National Road, Bridgeport.

Anyone interested in becoming a care coordinator can apply at jcescvla.bamboohr.com/careers/23.

To learn more about OhioRISE, call 740-792-4011, email ohiorise.info@jcesc.org or visit OhioRISE online at jcesc.k12.oh.us/CareManagementEntity.aspx.