If you are caring for an older relative at home, then November is a month to celebrate the work you do! November marks National Family Caregivers Month, a time to reflect on this important work that often goes unrecognized.

In Cuyahoga County there are more than 2,800 children in care of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). More than 600 of those children and teens are in permanent custody. We may be practicing social distancing, but none of us goes through this world alone. Every child needs family.

When the coronavirus pandemic, hit most of us retreated to our homes. Sequestered with our loved ones we worked and learned together, cooked and ate together, watched a lot of Netflix together, and had family game nights. Many of us rediscovered or came to an even stronger appreciation for the comfort, joy and security of home and family.

The Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) works with 37 senior center sites throughout the County to provide services such as transportation, congregate meals, enrichment activities and adult day care. Some of them have begun to offer services again under the new COVID-19 guidelines.

Cuyahoga County residents who have Limited English-Proficiency (LEP) can speak to local eligibility specialists who speak a language they’re more comfortable with when calling the Cuyahoga Job and Family Services Contact Center.

Ninety-two percent of LGBTQ youth believe they can have a happy adult life if they have an extremely accepting family. That’s why we’re recognizing National Coming Out Day and highlighting ways we can all be accepting, supportive and affirming of the people in our community.

Many of the children and families served by DCFS have multiple complex issues and barriers to stability. Whether they are impacted by substance abuse, mental health concerns, domestic violence, or joblessness, the more issues they face, the harder it is to treat them. That is why DCFS has created the Early Childhood Mental Health Unit. This unit provides more intense interventions with children and families to help them through their issues. Learn more about the ECMH Unit and the story of one particular child’s success as a result of these interventions.

Two years after Canopy Child Advocacy Center opened, Cuyahoga County families see the benefits. In November 2018, a host of major child and family provider organizations came together to share resources to provide better coordinated services to children impacted by sexual abuse and later added victims of human trafficking. Since that time over 1,100 children and their families have benefited from the expertise of wrap around services from some of the best multi-disciplinary practitioners in our community. Learn more about the special role of Canopy Child Advocacy Center.

September is National Recovery Month, a time to educate the public about substance use treatment and mental health services that can help people live healthy and rewarding lives. The Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) department at the Division of Children and Family Services provides specialized interventions for families working with the child welfare system when a parent has a diagnosed chemical dependency.

A recent evaluation of children attending kindergarten in urban and inner-ring public school districts in Cuyahoga County documented the benefits of attending a high-quality UPK program compared to high quality, non-UPK preschool.

The program, which runs through Sept. 30, helps residents purchase an air conditioning unit or fan or pay for central air conditioning repairs. It assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health.

Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) currently serves over 3,000 youth in foster care and provides assistance to an additional 3,000 youth. The 2020 Fill the Backpack Challenge aims to help them feel prepared and ready to learn.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark civil rights law opened the doors of opportunity for people with disabilities and increased our awareness of the enormous contributions that Americans with disabilities can make to our society.

We all have the responsibility to continue to be educated on the symptoms that cause elder abuse, learn how to recognize it, and be determined to stop it. The first step in combating elder abuse is to report it.

As we celebrate National Pride Month, it is crucial to learn how we can support the LGBTQ young people in our lives.

All older Americans, regardless of income, are at risk of financial abuse. Financial exploitation entails using a person's funds, property, or assets without permission or in a fraudulent manner.

Hundreds of local families and older adults need additional support during the pandemic. The Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Division of Senior and Adult Services (DSAS) stepped up to help through Operation Cuyahoga Cares.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aims to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

David Smith, Jr. has been the Director of Nursing for the Division of Senior and Adult Services since 2018. His decade of experience spans a variety of specialties, including medical-surgical/telemetry, acute and chronic dialysis, critical and emergency care, long-term/skilled care, and nursing administration.

Every May our country observes Older Americans Month to recognize the contributions of our nation's elders. This year's theme is: Make Your Mark. The theme highlights the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities.