Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Contact Information
Jill Valentic, Executive Director
4200 Park Ave.
3rd Floor
Ashtabula, OH 44004
Click for Directions
Phone
(440) 992-2121
Email
info@doyccac.org
Office Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm, M – F
Services offered at Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Any individual needing special assistance due to an impairment, disability or language barrier, should notify the receptionist upon arrival.
BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE
Extends help and hope in times of crisis and need to families and children in cooperation with other social service agencies, churches, food pantries, and soup kitchens.
- Utility assistance
- Prescription assistance
- Food assistance
- First Step assistance – Baby needs
- SSI SOAR Specialist – assists homeless and disabled with disability application
- Second Chance Citizen’s Circle – Re-entry assistance
- Lucille’s Loft – Hygiene and Household Items
- HALO – Christmas Program
- Those seeking help with utilities, food, prescriptions, hygiene & households items, baby needs, etc. are welcome to visit the agency on Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Applicants should bring a photo ID, proof of income, and information regarding the request – i.e. utility bill/disconnection notice. Utility assistance is typically limited to one time in twelve months.
- For those seeking help with rental assistance, eviction status is required and you must first attend a financial literacy workshop, which is held on Thursdays at 2:00 pm. Advance registration is required. Please call the agency to check availability and to register.
- Those who are homeless may visit the agency during business hours Monday through Friday. Every effort will be made to have homeless individuals meet with a caseworker, but please be aware that the caseworker may not be immediately available due to previously scheduled appointments.
- Gently used clothing for all ages, household items, and linens are available on Tuesdays from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Our new distribution site is located at 4200 Park Avenue, Second Floor, Ashtabula. Donations for the distribution site are currently being accepted, and may be dropped off during regular business hours.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas programming provides seasonal food and toy assistance.
HOUSING COUNSELING
HUD certified program which assists with a broad range of housing concerns.
- Foreclosure/default counseling is available for those who have fallen behind on their mortgage payment. A counselor will serve as an intermediary between the client and the lender; exploring all options which may help prevent the foreclosure.
- Pre-purchase counseling educates prospective homeowners about affordability and the home buying process.
- Down payment assistance is dependent upon grant availability, and limited funds may be available.
- Homeless outreach helps individuals and families get re-housed as quickly as possible, and connected to other community resources.
- SSI Specialist – assists with SSI and SSDI applications for those who are in jeopardy of homelessness, and diagnosed with a mental disability.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
- Opening Doors 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
- The goal of the Opening Doors Program is to help parents learn:
- Getting Ahead is a 16 session workshop that is based on the work of Phil Devol in his book Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World. The program’s purpose is to strengthen the community by supporting, nurturing and assisting those who wish to rise out of poverty, especially generational poverty. We will explore, as a group, the meaning and importance of 11 resources: financial, emotional, mental, language, social capital, physical, spiritual, integrity and trust, motivation, relationships and hidden rules. The workshop is limited to Ashtabula County residents only, and an application is required. A $15.00 gift card is given to participants for each session attended at the end of the program (when conducted via Zoom). Email carriea@doyccac.org with questions about the program.
- Hispanic Outreach connects Catholic Charities programs and services to the Hispanic community, offering translation and advocacy services as well as case management and direct assistance as appropriate. Includes advocacy, community connections, education and outreach and case management to families in need.
PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Prevent exploitation, abuse and neglect of vulnerable individuals
- Representative Payeeship provides casework and money management for individuals with disabilities who cannot manage their finances. 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.
- 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 a person incapable of caring for him/herself, it will appoint a legal guardian.This program trains and utilizes community volunteers to serve as “Guardians of Person” to county residents who are 60 or older, indigent, and lack available, appropriate family.