The Cuyahoga County Senior and Adult Services Advisory Board held its second Annual Board Meeting on January 28. The virtual meeting themed, “From Surviving to Thriving,” provided the community an opportunity to learn about the Board’s initiatives, and the Division of Senior and Adult Services’ (DSAS) mission, programs and services which have been helping older adults move 'from surviving to thriving' over the past year.

The Superhero Project, pairs artists with youth who are experiencing critical illness, a major change, trauma or special needs. Each child is virtually interviewed by an artist to determine what type of superhero best represents them. Afterwards, the artists design the superhero caricature, creating a visual representation of their strength and resilience.

DCFS, with the support of community members and local businesses provided toys, bikes and tablets for foster care youth through the Hope for the Holidays program, an annual gift program for children and teens in foster care.

In partnership with the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provides funds to assist low- income residents with the purchase and repair of hearing aids and other assistive devices through the Audiology Patient Assistance Program (APA).

Santa’s elves delivered thousands of toys to the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) this week as part of Hope for the Holidays, an annual gift program for children and teens in foster care. More than 4,000 youth are expected to receive gifts this holiday season.

The Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) launched a new narrative around the topic of aging with its recent “Reframing Aging” workshop. The session was facilitated by state aging expert, Beth Kowalczyk, Chief Policy Officer for the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Kowalczyk is part of a national group of facilitators trained in the Reframing Aging concept by the Gerontological Society of America.

Every Child Needs Family. That’s a theme the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services has maintained for many years. It’s a reminder that every individual child is not just a case, but a young person who needs all the things we get from a family, including love, support, advice, guidance, safety, etc.

Patricia Newell has been tapped as the new Executive Officer for the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS). Newell will be bringing more than twenty-seven years of senior leadership experience in project management, evidence-based program design and strategic planning to her new role.

The first Northeast Ohio Aging and Disability Summit took place virtually last week. Over 400 attendees tuned in to hear local and national thought leaders speaking on topics ranging from the latest in assistive technology, to caregiving for diverse populations, to how to live forever through innovative social entrepreneurship.

On June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated in America and around the world. Through this day, we raise awareness about the millions of older adults who experience elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Studies indicate that as many as 1 in 10 older Americans are abused or neglected each year and only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse ever comes to the attention of authorities.

May is National Foster Care Month, a time when we highlight the need for more foster parents, the value of excellent foster parenting, and thank the truly amazing foster parents who are doing this work.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood staffs Invest in Children, Cuyahoga County’s public private partnership that mobilizes resources and research to ensure the well-being of all young children. Through a continuum of targeted services, prenatal to kindergarten, we build awareness, advocate, and measure our impact.

April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority populations and encourage action through health education.

This month the Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS) joins the national call for increased awareness and action by encouraging Cuyahoga County residents and partners to consider how to support families, provide education, and offer resources to improve well-being for all children.

Invest in Children partners with Starting Point to support Family Childcare Homes (FCCHs) to be viable high-quality sites for young children -- a support system which helps more than just the kids. This partnership can be life-changing for those with the determination to start a small business, but who have limited capital.

The last time we shared an update on King Weatherspoon he was finalizing his adoption and on the path to a promising future as a student, writer and speaker. Now he’s a senior in high school and a published author.

Cuyahoga Job and Family Services, United Way 2-1-1, Enterprise Community Partners and The Greater Cleveland Food Bank teamed up to help thousands of Cuyahoga County residents access their stimulus checks.

With such an increased and urgent need, many residents are flooding the phone lines to apply or check on the status of their application. As a result, phone wait times have increased. CJFS is working on several ways to decrease wait times and ensure everyone who needs help gets it in the most efficient way possible.

Thousands of parents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may face lost jobs or reduced income. This can be a financial loss for two households. However, the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) wants you to know there are steps you can take and information you should know to help navigate the child support process and any necessary changes.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is making it easier and more convenient to manage your child support case and make payments right from your phone by launching a child support mobile application and adding Venmo as an e-wallet payment option.