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Friday, 18 July 2008 |
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Auglaize County is one of the last stops for Ohio’s first lady Frances Strickland as she continued her 88-county tour to better keep in touch with families and children in the state.
The wife of Gov. Ted Strickland stopped by the Auglaize County Administration Building Thursday as part of a special meeting for the Family and Children First Council of Auglaize County.
“The thought occurred to Ted and I that it was going to be difficult to stay close to the people out in the counties,” Frances Strickland said, “and then when this idea about me going to the Family and Children First councils, I thought, ‘That’s it for me. That’s how I can get into the counties.’ ”
During the meeting, Strickland received information regarding the county’s demographics as well as what programs are in full swing to better aid children and family needs.
The brief PowerPoint presentations showcased Auglaize County’s GRAD’s program as well as the Teen Screen computer program which tests children on their risk factors for mental issues such as anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
After the presentation, the lights in the meeting room came on and a detailed discussion began between Strickland and those in attendance on what needs the Family and Children First Council has and what the state could do to better assist the organization.
Addressing child behavioral issues dominated the discussion, but the primary concern raised by those at the meeting and the topic that took most of the first lady’s visit was House Bill 289, which was signed into law in May 2006.
In the bill, accountability increased for Family and Children First councils throughout the state, requiring them to provide an annual plan that identifies local interagency efforts to increase child well-being in the county.
Many at the meeting pleaded to Strickland to rework the resolution, saying the bill takes time away from helping those in need and places more paperwork on members of the councils.
“We would sooner spend our time servicing people who need us versus us filling out paper work to receive funding,” Auglaize County Department of Job and Family Services Business Administrator Amy Ruppert said.
Strickland assured those at the meeting that she would do what she could to alleviate some of the issues around House Bill 289 and promised she would return to Auglaize County soon to check up on the council and monitor its progress.
After the meeting, many in attendance expressed their thanks for Strickland’s visit as they walked out the doors with a newfound confidence that help would soon be coming from Columbus.
“Too many times we get these directives and we wonder, ‘Who’s making these rules?’ ” Ruppert said. “So to me it’s encouraging to have her come visit us, see what this is about and put faces to names.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 July 2008 )
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