Family Support
A major part of what AHEAD does for Massillon City Schools and the Community is to provide support to the families and students in one way or another. Whether that is through linking families to needed services, helping pay for needed services, working with partner agencies, or making connections for families to additional resources. Some examples of what AHEAD has done are below:
Lenscrafters Eye Care Program – minor program that makes a world of difference! AHEAD was able to sponsor a bus to take 28 uninsured students to Lenscrafters for free eye care and glasses. 25 of the students returned with new eyeglasses. This wasn’t a costly venture but it allowed the staff to plug into an existing service and get the children the medical care they needed without spending hours of time finding some way for students to have this need met.
Arts in Stark – Throught a SmARTS grant AHEAD was able to immerse students in academic and art programming with renown WWII survivor, author and artist, Dr. Nelly Toll. The entire 7th grade (329 students) experienced her book and water color paintings and were given the opportunity to meet Dr. Toll during her visit to Massillon. Other Arts grants included the Creativity Café to offer afterschool students new experiences in the arts.
Food Bag Programs: Providing bags of food for families over Spring Break, Winter Break and in other times of need.
Hygiene Bags: Bags of hygiene products and cleaning products when families are in need
Lice Kits: AHEAD purchases a large amount of lice kits each year to help families that need them and we provide those to the school nurses for our families
School – Agency Liaison – AHEAD serves as a liaison between the service providers and staff of many of the projects involving community organizations. Helping to meet needs, improve relationships, and address concerns and help facilitate communication for new programs and ideas.
Family Liaison – AHEAD is often called when no other community agency can help families that need services and step in to see if there may be something it can do to get people over the hump. AHEAD does not have a large Family Support fund but we know how to stretch our dollars and work with community agencies and partners to get things done for families in need.
Mental Health Services – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health and CommQuest Mental Health and Addiction Recovery both provide mental health services on site at the schools in the Massillon City School district due to the partnership with CARE Teams. This allows students to receive services at school without having to leave the building for an extended period of time as well as having a mental health provider on-site for emergency situations as well.
