| |
| | Stark County, Ohio: A System of Care |
 | | Stark County, a "rust belt" area southeast of Cleveland that includes 17 districts has developed an interagency system (The Stark County Family Council) that links families, education, mental health, child services, health, juvenile justice, and other agencies. |
 | | The council provides coordinated resources that have enabled schools in the countys two largest cities to respond to the large increase in the counties working poor (the largest growing population) and the influx of gang-related activities. |
 | | This philosophy helped Stark County attain its goals, which include providing a unified system of service; providing family-driven services which allow children to remain in their homes and communities to the greatest possible extent; and reducing the number of children in out-of-home and out-of-county placements. |
| cecp.air.org /resources/success/stark_county.asp (624 words) |
|