Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County

The basic needs/housing program assists those who are experiencing a household financial crisis and do not have the means through other financial supports and/or alternative resources to resolve their immediate need. Assistance may be provided to help with eviction, homelessness and/or homelessness prevention, utility disconnection, security deposit, food, hygiene products, diapers, formula and medication. Additionally, as a hud certified comprehensive housing counseling agency, this program assists all who may have a housing issue, assisting with pre and post purchase counseling, foreclosure counseling, down payment assistance, mortgage assistance, predatory lending education, budgeting and financial literacy education and advocacy for any housing concern. The first step program provides case management, emergency assistance and other services for women facing unplanned pregnancies as well as families dealing with the challenges of raising healthy families in the Ashtabula County area. This program supports the pro-life, pro-family position of the church through service and advocacy on behalf of women and families facing difficult life situations.

The education program consists of our opening doors program, which is an evidence-based, comprehensive 1-session interactive parent leadership and advocacy-training program developed for low-income parents with children ages 0-5. The program is based on the premise that enhancing parenting skills early in a child's life leads to economic and societal benefits. The goal of the opening doors program is to help parents learn: how to help their children develop healthy habits; how to prepare them to be successful in school; what resources and services are available to support their family; how to interact with other parents in the community; how to be your child's/children's first leader in education. A certificate awarded upon completion of the class.

Protective services consists of the representative payeeship program and guardianship. The representative payeeship program is a stabilization program that manages benefits for individuals who are incapable of managing their own finances. Typically, these individuals receive supplemental security income (a federal income supplement program to assist aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income). The first choice for a payee would be a family member or trusted friend, but for some individuals, no appropriate person is available. Representative payeeship is a less restrictive protective service than guardianship, and the courts are not involved. However, the beneficiary is restricted from having control of his or her monthly benefit amount. Ccac actually receives the beneficiary's monthly check and distributes it. The caseworker ensures that basic shelter, food, and clothing needs are met, and that appropriate benefits are accessed; thus, providing stability to those who are vulnerable to exploitation. Clients of the representative payeeship program are typically diagnosed with mental illness, alcohol, and drug addiction and/or physical and mental disabilities. Many clients have been a victim of exploitation and abuse and may have been easily taken advantage of financially. Given these factors, funds are often misused and needs such as shelter and food go unmet, leading to homelessness, poor health, lower functioning, and hospitalization. Guardianship is a legal relationship established by the probate court between two parties: one being the guardian and the other being the ward. If, after a thorough investigation and hearing, the court finds the person incapable of managing his or her own person, it will appoint a legal guardian. The guardian protects and oversees the ward's day-to-day maintenance, which includes food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and other necessities. The guardian is the voice and decision-maker for the ward. The presence of a guardian increases accountability from care staff and medical professionals and provides protection from exploitative individuals or family in the ward's life. Guardians monitor their ward's mental, physical, emotional, material, and environmental well-being. This program has traditionally served frail, indigent individuals over the age of 60, who are deemed incompetent. Additionally, the program serves as guardians to individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness, and under the age of 60.