The links below are offered to connect you to other non-profit entities that may be helpful sources of information on community needs and program design. Inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement of any of these organizations’ policy positions or advocacy by the Board of the Episcopal Community Services Foundation. ECSF is a non-partisan foundation whose mission is to help Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Southern Ohio to design and carry out effective community ministry. Issues advocacy by ECSF is limited to positions consistent with resolutions passed by the annual Convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
Factors in PovertyCenter for Community Solutions
A four-week Community Action Poverty Simulation gives a dramatic immersion in the realities of low wages and the difficulty of keeping housing, child care, and one’s job. The simulation can be scheduled for your church by contacting Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, 859-581-6607 or www.nkcac.org
Simulation of Homelessness: contact Zach Reat lo learn about the exercise developed by the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless and used by the Columbus Deanery.
Adult Education and Employment
The Ohio Literacy Resource Center at Kent State is funded by the Ohio Department of Education to provide technical assistance to literacy and adult basic education programs around the state. It has a wealth of on-line curriculum materials for program directors and teachers.
Ohio Literacy Network: This website includes statistics on the impact of low educational attainment on employment, earnings, and families. It also includes information on funding sources and public policy.
Appalachian Ministry
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries provides an array of information on Appalachian issues, ministries, and resources in a 10-diocese Appalachian region. The Diocese of Southern Ohio’s Mike Maloney, a leading scholar and activist for Appalachia, serves as EAM board president.
Children
Voices for Ohio’s Children is a non-partisan group of public, non-profit, and private sector organizations and individuals collaborating to improve the well-being of children in this state. The website includes information on physical and behavioral health, family stability, child care, education, safefy, and juvenile justice. The public policy director is Mary Wachtel, a member of St. John’s Worthington. For a summary of what Ohio’s current biennial budget includes for children’s health and education programs supported by Voices, read these summaries. For a summary of child health initiatives in HB 119, go here. To read about Early Care and Education state budget victories, go here.
The Ohio GroundWork Campaign provides links to studies on the impact of various interventions in promoting the optimal health and development of young children to equip them for health, academic success, and ultimate self-sufficiency.
Reviving the Human Spirit educates churches about substance abuse and how to build the strengths of youth to protect themselves. RTHS is a collaboration of several regional substance abuse prevention organizations plus the Faith Community Alliance. Several Episcopal experts on substance abuse are involved, including Vicki Cullar of St. Philip’s and Ann Barnum and Nan Franks Richardson of Christ Church Glendale. For more information, e-mail Vicki.
Environmental Stewardship
Interfaith Power and Light is an ecumenical initiative to strengthen the connection between ecology and faith, by helping congregations develop greater energy efficiency, conservation and use of renewable sources. It grew out of Episcopal Power and Light, launched by Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Green Energy Ohio provides extensive information on renewable energy options, suppliers, and sources of technical assistance.
Rural Action is working on environmental restoration and economic development that fosters human and environmental health.
ACEnet is a non-profit business incubator based in Athens, and is part of a network of non-profits researching and testing models of sustainable development. One example is its value-added agriculture program which has made local family farms more successful, plus developing one of the nation’s strongest markets for locally-grown and processed food.
Read Presiding Bishop Jefforts-Schori’s Congressional testimony on global warming, June, 2007.
General Convention environmental stewardship resolutions
Health and Access to Health Care
The Benefit Bank website includes a Quick Check tool to screen people for Medicaid eligibility. Trained counselors can download many marketing materials which can be customized to your site. To sign up to be trained as a Benefit Bank counselor, e-mail Ariel Miller.
For more about the impact of lack of insurance on family health and economic wellbeing, visit the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Cover the Uninsured website.
Reviving the Human Spirit educates churches about substance abuse, roles they can play in preventing it or responding effectively when it occurs, and links them to resources in a 20-county area around Cincinnati. RTHS provides free consultation to congregations and a resource library. The program also offers targeted workshops on how to build the strengths of youth to protect themselves against substance abuse. RTHS is a collaboration of several regional substance abuse prevention organizations plus the Faith Community Alliance. Several Episcopal experts on substance abuse are involved, including Vicki Cullar of St. Philip’s and Ann Barnum and Nan Franks Richardson of Christ Church Glendale. For more information, e-mail Vicki.
Homelessness and Housing
Websites on homelessness and housing
National Low-Income Housing Coalition
Coalition on Housing and Homelessness in Ohio
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless
Applied Information Resources, a non-profit consulting firm run by Episcopalians Bill Woods and Ed Burdell, includes a study on homelessness in Cincinnati. See the AIR publications page.
Tools for preventing homelessness
Habitat for Humanity of Ohio: Habitat is a proven strategy used by churches to partner with low-income families in building permanent, affordable housing. Many Episcopal churches in this diocese, from Dayton to Martin’s Ferry, participate in Habitat projects.
Foreclosure prevention hotline, 1-888-995-HOPE, is open 24 hours a day to connect callers to intensive budget advice, referral, and help negotiating with lenders. This service also links to the Ohio Home Rescue Fund created by the Ohio Department of Development. The Fund is part of a larger foreclosure prevention program that includes a public education campaign, counseling, loss mitigation for the community, lenders and homeowners, and training for non-profit counselors and consumers.
Ohio Housing Trust Fund: Ohio uses recorders’ fees to generate provides over $50 million a year in grants to Ohio communities for rehab or construction of affordable housing, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing.
Low-income Housing Tax Credits: Churches and other non-profits can apply for tax credits which can be used to leverage private capital into new construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing. St. Thomas, Terrace Park was the first institution in Greater Cincinnati to use this tool, developing the 100-unit Thomaston Woods apartments in Clermont County in the late 1980’s. There is a primer at this link: National Association of Housing and Rehabilitation Officials.
HUD grants for senior housing: HUD funding for affordable housing development is extremely limited, but still offers a significant program of grants for units serving senior citizens. The Episcopal Retirement Homes is actively involved in such development in various locations across the diocese. For more information, e-mail Paul Scheper.
Hunger
Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks will help churches find the nearest regional food bank as to obtain free or low-cost commodities. OASFH is Ohio’s lead agency for the Benefit Bank, working closely with ECSF on this project to provide free training and technical support to churches and non-profits. This website is a great source of current news on hunger trends and pending legislation.
Bread for the World is a national Christian advocacy movement that researches policy options and mobilizes people of faith to advocate with legislators to increase the effectiveness of hunger programs within the United States and overseas. This website includes a great deal of information on opportunities to advance anti-poverty programs consistent with the Millennium Development Goals. For a background paper on the Farm Bill, visit this link.
Hunger Network in Ohio is a statewide ecumenical organization which tracks hunger issues and provides study materials linking faith to advocacy. Episcopalians have played a strong role in Hunger Network for many years and are well-represented on the board. Visit this link for an analysis of the needs and opportunities connected with the 2007 Farm bill.
Prisoners and Ex-Offenders
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: This website provides many resources on prisoner demographics, re-entry and employment initiatives, as well as programs through which churches and individuals can help ex-offenders make a successful re-entry to the community.
Kairos of Ohio Prison Ministry
Ohio Justice and Policy Center: this Cincinnati-based non-profit advocates for prisoners and ex-offenders in many ways, ranging from prison conditions to changing laws and ordinances that place extra hurdles for people trying to start lawful and self-sufficient lives after release. The website includes a number of papers by OJPC attorneys on the impact of various policies and alternatives.
Community-Police Partnering Center: This Cincinnati initiative has built teams of citizens and police to analyze the factors in crime in neighborhood hot spots, and to make changes – such as better lighting or providing youth activities – that deter it. Churches are encouraged to participate in this work. This model could be replicated anywhere that police departments are open to it.
Out of the Crossfire: This new initiative was developed by University Hospital in Cincinnati to interrupt the cycle of violence by providing mentoring and case management to victims, families, and those involved in violent activity. The website offers information on risk factors, how the program works, and ways for individuals and community groups like churches can help.
Children’s Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline Initiative
Exofac: a program based at Neighborhood House, Columbus, to help ex-offenders secure housing and jobs. E-mail Lela Boykin.
Emily Shanley-Roberts and Ilona Carlson studying a sun oven at OU Eco-House, Athens, July 2007.
Dana Carlson of Good Shepherd Athens demonstrating one of the oldest conservation tools in the book: a clothesline! Creation Justice retreat, Athens, 2006.
ECSF trustees have extensive experience in social services and are glad to offer free planning advice to congregations. On the right, the Rev. John Brandenburg, an expert on hunger ministry, sharing ministry news with fellow members of the Northeast Deanery during a 2006 ECSF listening session.
The knowledge and caring of parishioners are among the greatest resources for ministry. Professional educators at St. Simon's of Cyrene have organized a new tutoring ministry in collaboration with Lincoln Heights Elementary. Shown here: the Rev. Trevor Babb and volutneers congratulate a student at the end-of-the-school year party in the church.
Free program space is vital to the ability of Interfaith Hospitality Networks to house families at about half the cost of other shelter programs. The Rev. Charlotte Reed demonstrating how homey the Christ Church Springfield nursery can be as a bedroom for a homeless family.
CAIN choice pantry St; Philip's member Sally Miller showing Bishop Price around CAIN's choice pantry in Cincinnati, where neighbors in need can see what's available and choose items their families will use.
The Rev. Rob Baldwin stocking the Choice Pantry at St. James, Piqua.
Using the food bank enables St. Paul's Martin's Ferry to provide hungry Belmont County families with tons of fresh produce the church could never afford at retail prices.
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