T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Deb Knight, assistant director of the Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services, and Richard Gualtiere, deputy director of the Jefferson County Community Action Council, speak with Harrison County commissioners about the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, a youth program that employs youth and young adults ages 16-24. Also pictured, from left, are Commissioners Dale Norris and Paul Coffland.

CADIZ — Local organizations are hoping for more participants to join a year-round and summer youth employment program in Harrison County.

The Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services and the Jefferson County Community Action Council are working to add some teens and young adults to the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, which helps provide job training and experience to residents between the ages of 16 and 24. On Wednesday, DJFS Assistant Director Deb Knight and CAC Deputy Director Richard Gualtiere met with the Harrison County Board of Commissioners to discuss the program.

Knight said the CAC has had difficulty finding participants for the program this year due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. She said they typically recruit participants through the schools which, up until recently, they were unable to do so.

“Not being allowed in the schools has created a difficulty for them (CAC) in recruiting kids for the work program. So hopefully we’ll have enough kids for the summer,” she added.

Gualtiere said the schools recently began allowing them to enter the schools and speak with students and get the word out about the program.

“We were able to get into the schools the last couple of months. That’s why we’ve seen an uptick in our numbers,” he said.

Gualtiere said they have served 78 participants in Harrison County from July 2020 to present. He said there have been 30 young people enrolled in year-round work experience, and there are currently nine participants enrolled in work experience. Other participants are receiving occupational skills training, assistance with post secondary education, adult mentoring and alternative education, he said.

The summer program is set to begin June 14. Gualtiere said they are hoping to run the program for 10 weeks. For more information on the program or to join, call the CAC at 740-282-0971.

After the discussion about the CCMEP, Knight held a public meeting to discuss the DJFS’ Title XX plan — a funding source for a number of the department’s services.

“It is a block grant through the Social Security Act. The point of Title XX is to provide local funding for needed social services,” she said.

Knight said there are 31 available social services through the plan. She said the organization is required to hold a public hearing to determine what services are needed in the county.

Last year, the DJFS received $354,552 through Title XX that helped to fund services including adoption, case management, counseling, foster care services for children, information and referral, adult protective services, child protective services, residential treatment services, special services for youth involved in or at risk of involvement in criminal activity, transportation, and COVID-19 response.

“We can provide services through formal or informal arrangements between our agency and a community agency, we can provide direct services by our staff and we can also purchase services. Primarily, we provide direct services with these funds,” she said.

Knight said the money is the largest funding source for the adult protective services.

“Because the designated money that we get from the state is not enough, so we use Title XX for that,” she added.

The DJFS is asking for residents’ input on what other services should be added to the county’s plan. Knight said any suggestions must be submitted by May 21. The plan has to be completed by mid-June.

“They (residents) can contact me so we can consider it and put it in our plan,” she said.

Suggestions can be emailed to Debra.Knight2@jfs.ohio.gov or made by calling 740-942-6004.