Lakewood Department of Human Services

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

In 1992 the Department of Human Services was established to address the everchanging needs of the residents of the Lakewood community. Comprised of four Divisions, the mission of the Department of Human Services is to provide a continuum of responsive programs and services that enhance and promote the health and well-being of individuals, families and the community.

•	Millie is a frail 87 year old who was able to be released from the hospital and return to her own home with the assistance of the Division of Aging Home Health Services and Transportation services
•	A Single mom with two young children is able to go back to work to support her family because she received a day care scholarship from the Division of Early Childhood. This same mom was also able to find guidance and support at one of the numerous Drop-Ins offered at the Family Room.
•	After attending a Parent Support Group at the Division of Youth, an overwhelmed Mom and Dad have developed new skills and more confidence in handling their angry adolescent daughter. Through the Division of Youth's School Liaison initiative, a group of 7th graders learned new ways to avoid allowing school bullies to affect their school adjustment.

Through the coordination of programs and services offered by the four divisions, the Department of Human Services is able to strengthen the community as a whole, by strengthening and caring for the greatest asset of any community, its residents.

DIVISION OF AGING

In 2003, the Division of Aging marked 30 years of providing services supporting positive aging for Lakewood residents.

The Division maintains two (2) senior centers:
Kathleen & Robert Lawther Center (West) , located at 16024 Madison Ave.
Senior Center East, located at 12400 Madison Ave.

We currently staff 52 employees - 38 full time and 15 part time. We also have 456 volunteers donate over 50,000 hours of service each year.

The Division of Aging offers over 100 services, programs and activities available for older adults. These include but are not limited to:
• Congregate Meals
• Home Delivered Meals
• Transportation· Escort Service
• Social Services
• Outreach Services
• Personal Care
• Housekeeping
• Nursing Services
• Case Management
• Support Groups
• Educational Services
• Recreational Activities
• Supportive Services· Health Services
• Intergenerational Activities
• Wellness Activities
• …and many more

Funding sources for the Division of Aging include Lakewood City general funds, Older Americans Act Title III, Passport, Options, Medicare reimbursement and other contributions and donations. We are available 24/7 through our hotline at (216) 521-1515 or (216) 226-9339.

DIVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

In 1987, based on a need identified by Lakewood families, community representatives, Lakewood Early Childhood Professionals, The City of Lakewood, Lakewood City Schools, and Lakewood Hospital, initiated the Lakewood Child Care Resource and Referral Program. The goal of the Lakewood Child Care Resource and Referral Program was to provide support and education for parents and early care and education providers while enhancing the quality and increase availability of affordable early childhood programs in Lakewood.

In 1992, this project was incorporated into the newly created Department of Human Services, as the Division of Early Childhood.

The mission of the Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood is to build on the existing strengths of families raising young children by providing resources and services which enhance parenting skills and continue to improve the overall quality of early care and education in Lakewood.

In September, 1994, a collaboration between the City of Lakewood, Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood and St. James Church provided the resources to establish the Lakewood Family Room. The belief of the Lakewood Family Room is that as we strengthen and support parents, we ultimately strengthen our families and community.

The Lakewood Family Room programs:
• Build on the family's strengths rather than deficits.
• Enhance the capacity of parents to foster the optimal development of their children.
• Respect the integrity of the family unit.
• Foster cultural, ethnic and religious sensitivity.

The Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood remains a Division with many collaborative partners in Lakewood and the greater community, all committed to supporting our youngest residents and those adults who are raising them.

DIVISION OF YOUTH

For 24 years the Division of Youth has provided a continuum of programs and services that has assisted youth and families solve problems and see all the possibilities for growth and change. Though over the years we have answered to many names, "Lakewood Youth Services", "The Youth Office" and most recently "The Division of Youth" we have always attempted to help kids and families by building on their assets or strengths. Providing accessible and caring clinical services, counseling, case management and crisis intervention have always been the core of all programming offered by the Division of Youth.

In an on going effort to meet the ever changing needs of our youth and families the Division of Youth has partnered with the Division of Police to provide program initiatives that have worked to reduce juvenile crime in this community.

The Division of Youth has also partnered with Lakewood City Schools. One tier of this partnership is the School Liaison Program. The focus of this program is early identification of students and parents who may need support and caring intervention either through individual and/or group services. The ultimate goal of this program is to strengthen the partnership between parents, the school and the community in an effort to help students resist the lure of high risk behaviors and develop the skills to improve their social and academic adjustment.

A second tier of the partnership with the schools is the nationally recognized H20 (Help to Others) service learning program. H20 offers programming through the high school, at the middle school level and throughout the summer at the middle school summer service camp. Over the past 10 years H20 student volunteers have provided over 55,000 hours of service to the community. This youth development initiative helps young people build resilience and problem solving skills while discovering the values of community involvement.