Licking County
Children
& Families First Council
Summer- A time for serenity and joy!
Summer is the perfect season to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and savor the simple joys that nourish the soul. Let this be your gentle reminder to embrace rest, radiance, and renewal all summer long.
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​​Use this Kudos form to support your fellow community members who deserve encouragement, acknowledgement and thanks. Submissions will be highlighted in upcoming SOS newsletters.
Brainteaser answer below
The 2024 Licking County Children and Families First Council Annual Report presented at the Council meeting on February 5, 2025 highlights Council accomplishments!
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Licking County Children and Families First Full Council approved the updated Service Coordination Mechanism (SCM) at the December 4, 2024 meeting. The SCM outlines how Licking County families and children with complex needs can access service coordination or high-fidelity Wraparound services through Licking County CFFC. Licking County's SCM aligns with the values of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s mission to promote positive, lifelong outcomes for Ohio youth through early intervention, quality education, and family support programs.
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series. Session 6- Trauma Informed Environments
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Presented by Sylvia Friel, Licking County Children and Families First Council and Cheree Nelson, Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series.
Session 5- Minimizing risks-
ensuring social-emotional safety
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Presented by Ronni Boyer,
Newark City Schools
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series.
Session 4- Collaboration, Voice and Choice, Social Connections
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Presented by Cory Stutes,
United Way of Licking County
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series.
Session 3- Empowerment- Building on Strengths and Promoting Resilience
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Presented by
Katie Steel, Director of Operations, New Directions and
Joshua Tolliver, The Village Network
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series.
Session 2- How to Recognize Trauma
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Presented by Peg Tazewell, Executive Director, Knox County Head Start
Licking/Knox Trauma Informed Care Lunch and Learn Series.
Session 1- Understanding Trauma
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Presented by Tamara Frye, LISW-S
Executive Director
The Woodlands Serving Central Ohio, Inc
Community Voices
Community Voices members connect with parents and caregivers to offer support and resource information and to learn about their needs and concerns. Community Voices' annual needs and gaps report to the Children and Families First Council identified the need for respite, youth mentors, knowledge of available resources and improving youth transitions from services in one life stage to the next. Click here for the full report.
Through the generosity of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties, Community Voices has a presence at community events, informing parents and caregivers of the support they offer and resources available to families of children with needs in areas such as mental health, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, school, child protection, health, etc. Look for Community Voices at upcoming family events and visit our page here!
Licking County Children and Families First Council's 2023-2025 Shared Plan provides an agenda for Council members in our work to achieve better results for families and children. Our priorities:
Parent and family voice
Service Coordination and Wraparound services
Trauma Informed Care
Collaborative, community-based early interventions
Licking County Children and Families First Council is a funded partner of United Way of Licking County.
Other funders include our Council partners, state allocations and grants. In-kind support from our local partners increases our capacity to coordinate services for children and families.
2025 Full Council meetings are held on February 5, April 2, June 4, August 6, October 1 & December 3. Meetings are in-person at the Licking County Health Department, 675 Price Rd., Newark. We also offer a virtual option-
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 264 048 707 277, Passcode: okaMRB
Download Teams | Join on the web
Join with a video conferencing device
682042763@t.plcm.vc, Video Conference ID: 114 168 460 4
Or call in (audio only) +1 614-721-2972,,557416633#
Phone Conference ID: 557 416 633#
To make a referral to Community Support Teaming High Fidelity Wraparound and Service Coordination, contact Melanie Fling, CFFC Multi-Systems Services Supervisor, at
740-670-8916 or Melanie.fling@jfs.ohio.gov. Click here for the referral form. Click here for the Release of Information
To schedule a consultation with Early Childhood Clinical Committee (for children from birth to age 8) or Clinical Committee (older youth), contact CFFC Multi-Systems Services Supervisor, Melanie Fling, at 740-670-8916 or Melanie.fling@jfs.ohio.gov.
Summer Newsletter brainteaser: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years??
Answer: The letter “M”