Showcasing the hard work and dedication of the Mobile Food Pantry Team.

The Observation of a Proud CEO

Upon my arrival for a dental appointment, I was greeted by Megan and had the opportunity to observe firsthand the welcoming environment that has been created.

While I was waiting, a patient arrived for her appointment and was greeted warmly and enthusiastically by Megan. Throughout the check-in process, Megan engaged the patient in a friendly and genuine manner. She had coloring pages available for the patient’s niece’s and, although they were not with her that day, encouraged her to take the pages home because she remembered how much the children enjoyed coloring. Before the interaction ended, Megan told the patient how glad she was that she had come in and that she hoped to see her and the children again soon.

A Visit to the OhioMeansJobs can be life changing When Ralph visited OhioMeansJobs Pike County, he was already employed as a contractor assigned to GE Aerospace. After learning that a permanent position had become available - one that closely matched his skills and experience - he decided to pursue the opportunity. To strengthen his application, Ralph sought assistance with developing a professional resume that would effectively showcase his qualifications.

During his visit, Ralph received individualized resume assistance focused on highlighting his experience, skills, and accomplishments while tailoring the document to the specific requirements of the position. A customized cover letter was also developed to emphasize his interest in the role and demonstrate why he would be a strong candidate.

It’s official — our Pathways to Excellence Silver submission has been SUBMITTED!

After months of gathering information, digging through documents, answering a lot of questions, reviewing, rewriting, reviewing again…and then probably reviewing it one more time just to be safe…our Silver submission is officially out the door!

So, what exactly did we submit for?

Pathways to Excellence gives Community Action Agencies the opportunity to take a deep dive into how they operate — from leadership and strategic planning, to our employees, finances, community partnerships, programs, results, and everything in between.

Basically, we had to answer one very BIG question:

How does CAC put excellence into action?

And as it turns out…there was a lot to talk about!

Throughout the process, we looked at how CAC listens to our community, responds to changing needs, develops new programs and services, supports our employees, manages resources, measures our progress, plans for the future, and — most importantly — carries out our mission every single day.

Helping Patients Where They Are

Valley View Health Centers (VVHC) has received an exclusive grant award to participate in the School-Based Health Center Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative: Improving SBHC Consent and Utilization. This initiative is organized by Ohio School-Based Health Alliance and supported by the Ohio Department of Health. VVHC is one of up to six operators selected statewide to take part in this program. This opportunity will provide the collaboration and support needed to ensure that the students and families within the school districts are fully utilizing the centers’ healthcare services and resources.

Valley View Health Centers has been awarded $22,500 to fund quality improvement activities such as marketing and strategic outreach tactics. These resources will directly support the school-based health centers operating within Scioto Valley Local Schools in Piketon and Manchester Local Schools in Manchester. The official project period runs from September 2026 through May 2027.

MISSION FIRST: BRINGING WARMTH, SAFETY, AND PEACE OF MIND THIS WINTER

Dear Community Action Family,

As the crisp autumn air settles across Southern Ohio and the leaves begin to change, we are reminded that a new season is upon us. In our personal lives, October brings beautiful scenery and pumpkin patches. But for the vulnerable familes, infants, and seniors we serve, falling temperatures signal the arrival of a stressful, challenging time of year.

As the cold weather approaches, the cost of keeping a home safe and warm rises dramatically. For a family living a tighter budget or a senior on a fixed income, a single spike in a utility bill can force a heartbreaking choice between buying groceries, purchasing lifesaving medication, or turning on heat.

This month marks the official kickoff of our heavy winter preparation season. Our Community Services department is stepping directly onto the frontline to ensure no neighbor in our communities has to make that choice.

2025 Agency-Wide Audit: The agency has completed another successful agency-wide audit!

This year, one of the major areas of focus was our Health Center Cluster, which required significant coordination, documentation, and preparation.

A special thank you to Dunia Mershon, Sandra Helton, Jennifer Moore, Angie Knipp, Angie Smith, Kim Van Hoy, Brittany Merritt, Courtney Ward, Brittany Hodge, and Sierra Frisby for all of your hard work and assistance throughout the audit process!

I’m sure there were many others who contributed to this success as well. A successful audit truly takes all of us doing our part to remain familiar with grant regulations, best practices, agency policies, laws, and the requirements that apply to our work.

A very special thank you to our retired friend, Barb Crabtree, who continues to assist us in preparing the required financial statements. We greatly appreciate her continued support!

What does a Successful Audit Really Mean?

A successful audit demonstrates strong financial controls, appropriate documentation, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of agency resources.

But what many people don’t see is the tremendous amount of work that takes place throughout the year to make that successful audit possible.It All Begins Here

SHARING KNOWLEDGE: Empowering Professionals Through Excel Training:

 At Workforce & Business Development, investing in professional development strengthens organizations and helps employees work more efficiently. Recently, the business team partnered with Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) to provide Microsoft Excel training designed to enhance the technical skills of their staff.

A total of 54 AAA7 staff members completed the Workforce & Business Development’s Microsoft Excel training series, which included two Level 1 courses and one Level 2 course. Participants gained practical, hands-on experience with essential Excel skills, including creating and formatting spreadsheets, building formulas and functions, managing workbooks, sorting and filtering data, creating charts, and analyzing information using PivotTables and slicers.It All Begins Here

Case management in rural communities requires a comprehensive approach to address high rates of poverty and housing insecurity. Melinda Owsley, the Behavioral Health Case Manager at the Valley View Health Center (VVHC) Manchester School-Based Health Center, navigates these complex challenges daily. The Case Management Program focuses on assessing the individual needs of clients, from care coordination and resource linkage, to benefits navigation and robust client-centered support.

For individuals managing preexisitng mental health conditions, the stress of financial instability, food insecurity, and a lack of reliable transportation often intensifies their symptons of their anxieties and fears. According to the Maslow’s Hierarch of Needs, Psychological Needs (e.g. shelter, food, and physical safety) must be met before indidivuals can successfully pursue employment or other personal goals. This reality is especially challenging for those relying on fixed incomes like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which creates additional financial barriers.

Melinda recently provided the much-needed assistance and support to two clients through the overwhelming process of securing permanent housing. It All Begins Here