The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, in partnership with Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, awarded two Exemplary Program Awards during the 2021 Virtual Winter Legislative Conference. The award winners, Community Action Akron Summit and Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, demonstrated exemplary programs through nominations thoroughly review by Ohio University’s team of experts.
Community Action Akron Summit’s Pathways HUB program works collaboratively to coordinate services for at-risk women to improve birth outcomes in the greater Akron area. The program supports expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy to link them with needed services without duplication with community health workers’ support. The Pathways HUB aims to improve access to treatment for substance use disorders and other barriers that low-income, at-risk women may encounter. The program is based on a national Pathways HUB model.
Miami Valley Community Action Partnership’s Legal Clinic aids individuals who have few resources and pressing legal challenges. To date, the program has served 650 clients and has addressed some of the most critical needs, including driver’s license suspensions, housing issues, and criminal record expungement. By addressing legal barriers, clients have successfully acquired and maintained viable employment while also keeping families in safe housing.
OACAA congratulates both of our member agencies for creating and maintaining these exemplary programs. We also thank Ohio University for their partnership in identifying them. Exemplary Program Award nominations are released each fall. We encourage all members in good standing to submit a nomination for one or multiple programs they administer. Nominations are reviewed and scored by Ohio University, and all those who meet the threshold are awarded exemplary status.