Photo Provided OhioRISE care coordinator Vicky Filtz greets children and families at Barnesville Exempted Village School District’s back to school celebration.

BARNESVILLE — OhioRISE worked to bring resources and children in need of them together in the Barnesville Exempted Village School District during the 2023-24 school year, and the partnership continues in 2024-25.

On Aug. 1, OhioRISE care coordinator Vicky Filtz visited the district’s back-to-school celebration during Barnesville’s monthly Fun in the Ville. Families turned out at Barnesville Elementary School to give their children the best start possible for the coming school year.

Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s OhioRISE, or 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. It is operated by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. OhioRISE was formed to coordinate resources and put families in touch with what is available.

Filtz spoke with parents about what OhioRISE offers. Filtz also spoke with children who were anticipating their first day of school.

“It’s nice to be here and support them and provide them with a little bit of supplies for school,” she said.

Filtz said OhioRISE laid the groundwork for a strong partnership with the Barnesville district when care coordinators met with the administrative team last school year.

“We went over what OhioRISE was and how we could support what they’re doing for their students so that we can help relieve some of the burden when it comes to trying to connect them to the community resources,” she said. “We can all concentrate and focus on the work that we’re doing individually, and we can support them with that.”

Barnesville Superintendent Micah Fuchs said OhioRISE’s work with the district’s children last school year made it natural to invite the program to the back-to-school gathering.

“They provide a lot of different resources for needy families so that they can be successful in and out of the classroom, so we’re really happy to have the involvement of OhioRISE in the district and Jefferson County for supporting it,” he said. “They’re very equipped to help families get the services they need, whatever that might be – just the various assortment of resources that they know how to access.”

Fuchs said the district looks forward to a productive relationship with OhioRISE.

“Knowing where to get support is a help to us, because they have a database of different organizations,” he said. “They even help us connect to those resources.”

Board of Education President Leslie Shultz agreed, adding that Medicaid-funded programs such as OhioRISE can focus on the specific needs of young people.

“It’s a great mental health service for all ages, but especially for our youth. Additional help with anything related to their mental health, behavioral health, additional support services within the school district or outside in the community,” she said. “It’s great to have additional services throughout any school district to help those in need.”

Incoming elementary school Principal Zack Powell is familiar with OhioRISE, recalling care coordinators were always ready to take up the case.

“We took advantage of the opportunities that OhioRISE provided to us when I was at Union Local (School District) and I hope to continue to be able to use those services for our kids here at Barnesville,” he said.

Attendees included care coordinator Leian Borsos, who was there as a parent. She also anticipated more activities in Barnesville and Belmont County as a whole, since an OhioRISE office will be located in the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District along the Ohio River.

Another attendee was Amanda Fisher, who also serves as Belmont County’s coroner. She also sees the value of resources OhioRISE can bring.

“It’s much-needed, especially in our county,” she said. “Mental health and struggling families, it’s something that still for whatever reason seems taboo to talk about.”

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.