Licking County
Children
& Families First Council
Spring is a time for opportunities! Whether it be spending time in nature, time with friends and family, celebrating a loved one’s milestone, trying something new, or taking time for yourself. Take time this spring to do something you have always wanted to do!
Brainteaser answer below.
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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.
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 is connecting
with parents and caregivers
Community Voices members connect with parents and caregivers to offer support and resource information and to learn about their needs and concerns. Community Voices' yearly 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.
Community Voices members are excited to spread the word about their group. Through the generosity of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties, the group is able to have a presence at community events to let parents and caregivers know about 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. This spring and summer, look for the Community Voices table at upcoming family events, resource fairs and the community farm markets!
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.
2024 Full Council meetings are held on February 7, April 2, June 5, August 7, October 2 & December 4. 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.
Spring Newsletter brainteaser: What is seen in the middle of March and April that can’t be seen at the beginning or end of either month?
Answer: The letter “R”