West Ohio Cap had a very

busy and exciting time

during the Month of May!

Take a look inside to see

all of the fun and

celebrations that were

acknowledged in the past

month.

Inside this issue:

Community Action Month &

25th Anniversary Recap

2

Bike Rodeo Recap 3

Non-Profit of the Year

Award

4

WOCAP Interns 5

Mrs. O’Neal 6

Fair Housing 8

Facilities 12

Meet The

EDITOR LAUREN LINK

ABOUT ME WOCAP

EXPERIENCE

Currently, I am the Planning &

Development Director, and have

been with the agency for 4 years this

month. I was first hired in 2015 as a

Career Development Coordinator, working

at our Auglaize County Site. In

2016, I became the Employment &

Training Services Manager, overseeing

programs in Auglaize, Hardin and Van Wert Counties. In October of 2017, I accepted my current

position.

I reside in Lima with my husband Aaron, 8 year old stepson Konnor

and our energetic Goldendoodle Stella. We are excited to be

expecting another addition to our

family, a baby boy, in early

September! I enjoy cheering on Konnor in all of his

sports events, long-distance running, biking and yoga. Any

day spent outside being active with my family is my

favorite!

I received my Bachelor’s

Degree from The Ohio State

University in 2013. In June of 2017, I received

my Master’s Degree from

Columbia Southern

University.

Besides completing the Monthly Newsletter, I

have various duties for the agency in my position. I run our

Facebook page daily, network with community

partners, construct marketing materials, control our webpage

and plan various events for the agency. On the

other side, I oversee implementation and

outcomes through our Strategic Plan and compile and create

reports, among other duties. I enjoy that my job allows me to work

with all staff members in each of the different

departments and programs that we offer.

It is fun to work in all areas of the agency.

EDUCATION ROLES

Community Action Month & 25th Anniversary

We look

forward to celebrating many more

years with all of you!

Page 2

May was a busy and exciting month here at WOCAP. We celebrated

Community Action Month throughout the entire month, as well as

gathering together to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. It was a month

of appreciating all of the hard work our dedicated staff does for the

agency, our families and our community each and every day. It was

also a time to recognize our community partners. Without their

partnerships we would not be able to fulfill all of the needs within the

community. Thank you to our teachers and our Head Start kiddos for

creating beautiful artwork throughout the month in honor of

Community Action Month and Head Start’s 54th Birthday!

Page 3

B IKE

Thank You to all of the

volunteers who made this

event a successful one this

year!

R ODEO R ECAP It was a beautiful day to host the Bike Rodeo here at our WOCAP site with many other community agencies and partners. We had a great turnout for the event and each child received a free helmet. Children completed various courses to practice their cycling skills, as well as learning bicycle safety with a Lima Police Department officer. Many children won door prizes, including two Grand Prize Bikes that were raffled off at the end of the Bike Rodeo! It was a fun event spent with families and their children.

Non

-Pro

fit

Of

Th

e Y

ear

Aw

ard

Our Agency was honored to have received the Non-Profit of the Year Award, presented by the Allen County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala held in May. This is an exciting achievement for our agency, and this would not be possible if not for our

dedicated staff who make a direct impact in our clients’ lives every day. Without our staff, we would not be able

to fulfill our service and programming so efficiently to the community we serve.

We would like to congratulate our Student Interns who graduated in May! These five interns were working here at our St. Matts, Allen

East, Philippian, O’Neal and Howard sites. The student interns were students at Apollo Career Center in the Early Childhood Education

Program.

The students have been working hard towards the completion of their CDA, which is a nationally recognized entry level credential in

the field of Early Childhood Education.

Congratulations to our Student Interns in our Early Head Start & Head Start Programs!

Our O’Neal Classroom Site had a special visitor in May. Mrs. O’Neal taught Head Start for 3 years from 1965-1968, before becoming the Head Start Director for 24 years from 1969-1993! The students gifted Mrs. O’Neal with a card and a bouquet of flowers beautifully decorated by themselves. Big thanks to Mrs. O’Neal for all she has done for our community, our families and our children.

On a hot summer day, a little girl finds ways to enter-

tain herself and stay cool. She catches a butterfly, sips

lemonade, jumps in a pool, and goes on a picnic. At

night, she sees an owl in a tree and a frog in a pond,

and hears leaves rustling. Before long, she's fast asleep,

dreaming about more summer days and summer

nights.

Including whales, walruses, penguins, polar bears,

stingrays, and sharks, a wonderful collection of

poems celebrates the many creatures that live in

and around the ocean

Ingredients

1—6 count Popsicle Mold

2 Kiwi

2 Peaches

5 Strawberries

½ Cup Blueberries

2—16 oz. Bottles Flavored Water

Directions

1. Cut the kiwi and strawberries into slices, and cut the peaches into

bite-sized pieces.

2. Layer the fruit into the popsicle molds until each one is full, but

about ½ inch from the top.

3. Pour the flavored water into each mold filling within ½ inch from the

top.

4. Place the stick down into each mold and put into the freezer until

frozen, about 4-5 hours or overnight.

Healthy Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Q uarterly Fair Housing Article

Thank you to Warner Roach for serving as our Board President the past 5 years.

Warner came to us as a Human Resource expert from Proctor and Gamble. He was Vice President of the board in 2013, and

president since 2014. Warner has provided excellent leadership to the administrative

team during this time, and we were fortunate to have the guidance and knowledge he

generously provided. He has taught us to not be afraid of controversy, that pride in our work does not take away from our modesty, and most of all he has taught us to celebrate

our successes.

Thank You Warner Roach

The Fair Housing law states that it is illegal to deny people the opportunity to live where they want and can afford. According to the law, a person cannot be denied housing because of their: Race National Origin Religion Sex Familial Status Or Disability If you or a loved one has been denied housing or been treated unfairly based on your inclusion in one of the protected classes, please contact us at West Ohio CAP today at (419) 227-2586 to receive more information about your rights and how to file a complaint.

WOCAP HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS

Homeownership Class Schedule:

Dates: May 6, 8, 13 & 15

Time: 5:00-8:00 PM

Location: WOCAP, 540 S. Central Ave., Lima, OH 45804

Contact: Katelyn Miller 419-227-2586 Ext. 122

Financial Literacy Class Schedule:

Dates: June 18, 19 & 20

Time: 2:00 PM—4:00 PM

Location: LACNIP, 1440 W. Spring Street, Lima, OH 45801

Contact: Katelyn Miller 419-227-2586 Ext. 122

Fair Housing Schedule:

Date: Thursday, June 6

No Classes in July

Time: 5:00—7:00 PM

Location: Lima Public Library, 650 W. Market St., Lima, OH 45801

Contact: Amber Basares 419-227-2586 Ext. 111

Children have been enriched from Head Start’s unique approach, which is built on the premise that every child, despite prevailing circumstances at birth, possesses the ability to reach their full potential. The Head Start model at West Ohio CAP is built on evidence-based practices and strives to maintain adaptability by choosing the best teaching techniques to meet the needs of our local community. Our agency offers social, emotional and intellectual growth to prepare children for kindergarten readiness and success in life. In order to ensure every child has a healthy head start, the program allows families to have the

opportunity to receive:

High quality early learning opportunities

Education and developmental screenings

Individual development plans

Kindergarten Readiness

Family empowerment

Individualized family support

Community Resource referrals

Periodic screening diagnostic health

Head Start has a whole child and whole family approach model and focuses on helping the child’s

development in an array of areas, which especially makes a direct difference in enhancing social-emotional

development.

WOCAP’s Child Development Services encourages the healthy development of children from families

throughout Allen County. Early Head Start and Head Start programs are free to those who qualify for the

program. Families have the option of our Classroom Option or our Home Based Option. The Home Based

Option offers a teacher in your home 1 ½ hours per week to work one-on-one with the parent and child.

West Ohio CAP offers two family days per month to allow children and parents to participate in socialization

activities.

Provide your child(ren) a healthy head start by enrolling them in West Ohio CAP’s Head Start Program, where

they will receive an investment in their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.

There are various options for enrollment: Pick up an enrollment packet at 540 S. Central Avenue Call 419-227-2586 Ext. 109 or Ext. 216

Fill out the application on our website www.wocap.org

Every child has the ability to succeed, and together we’re supporting more children, families and communities

on their path to success. Contact Us Today!

Early Head Start serves

children birth to 3 years of age

Head Start serves children 3 to

5 years of age

Excellent Attendance Our goal is to prepare your child for their next stepping stone of education whether it is Head Start or Kindergarten. Regular Attendance is an important part of your child’s educa-tional, social, and emotional development. When children are absent from school they are missing out on a lot of educational and social opportunities. We would like to thank those parents who assure their child is attending school every day. In the month of April we had 111 children with Perfect Attendance. Way to Go Parents!!!!

Allen East I Kna’Ledge D. D’Nia E-S. Tyson F. Deontray F. Alaya L. Kaylin W. Bricelynn W. Allen East II Violet M. Central B Malonnie B-M. Michael B-M. Central C Oliver S. Zayden W. Central D Kaydence M. Central G Jason C. Xena S. Micah W. Central H Elijah K. Annabell R. Mikyla W. Home Based (AH) Amirah B. Malaya R. Zyshon S. Jr. Nathanial T.

Home Based (CW) Emmaleigh B. Karter B. Damion C. Maddox E. Starlyhn K. Natalie N. Devion S. Jr. Landyn S. Home Based (GG) Jaques B. Damarya C. Zadie H. Za’Riah Y. Home Based (JJ) Mehki A. Ariel B. Home Based (JS) Kaitlyn B. Bayley H. Blayze J. Connor J. Delilah S. Isaac S. Camille t. Deyja T. Avery T. Illana W. Home Based (KC) A’Niyah B. Dustin E. Jr. Bentley J. Kai M. Isabella N. Gabrial P. Gavin R-M. Amber S.

Home Based (WW) Lillian A. Logan H. Olivia K. Howard A Kamden L. Howard B Aydn A. Alan C II Mychel M. Kingdom Daycare Kenzley B. Jordan T. Lima Sr. I Izaiah R. Kamryn S. Little Rascals A Jaiyah J. Little Rascals C Amayla C. LeRoy C. Jr. Market St. I AM Mahni A. Lillian W. Market St. I PM Kai C. Caleb E. Aleena E. Lilliana S. Hanna V. Alexie W.

Market St. II PM Ciara C. Justice R. O’Neal A Carmah F. O’Neal B Alijah A. Philippian I Zaythaniel C. John J. Philippian II ZenDaya B. Zyarah J. Shawnee Infant Mateo W-S. Shawnee Toddler B Naomi B. Rihlynn M. St. Matthews Micaleb C. Trinity CCC Briella D. Ta’Andre H. Sarah S.

6th—Penny Krouse 7th—Vicky Centers 13th—Sarah Tobin

17th—Beth VonDeylen 19th—Michela Hinojosa 20th—Chasity Brewer

28th—April Jadav 29th—Kim Crawford

JUNE

BIRTHDAYS

Once again we find ourselves getting ready for that warm spring time of the year and the start of playground clean up. For us in facilities it is a good feeling to get to some warm weather after a cold snowy winter. Our regular spring playgrounds work has been delayed due to all this rain, but we are still planning those summer projects. This summer we will be installing some mulch in our playgrounds. We are making a big push to finish our great room updating project. New carpet is going in and new office cubicles are ready to go.

Facilities Coordinator David Fischer

Lima City Adult Education/GED ONLINE CLASSES AVAILABLE WORK WITH A CAREER PATHWAYS

ADVISOR

FOR MORE

INFORMATION CALL

419-996-3082

OR

419-996-3083

LIMA ADULT

LEARNING CENTER

563 W. SPRING STREET

419-996-3082

Adult Ed. Class Schedule

Bradfield Center

550 S. Collett St., Lima

Tuesday & Thursday

2:00-4:00 PM

Rhodes State College

Science Building Room 119

Tuesday 2:00-8:00 PM

Thursday 2:00-5:00 PM

WOCAP (formerly LACCA)

540 S. Central Ave., Lima

Tuesday & Thursday

9:30-11:00 AM

Lima Public Library

650 W. Market St., Lima

Memorial Book Room

5:30-7:30 PM

BOARD OF TRUSTEES—2019 Representatives must be One Third Private Business, One Third Public Entity and One Third Low-Income

Dick Accountius (Public)

RTA

Esther Baldridge (Low-Income)

United Way

Mayor David Berger (Public)

City of Lima

Natalie Bice (Private) (Treasurer)

J.M. Green & Associates

Glenda Cockrell (Low-Income)

PC Representative for Head Start

Pam Fitzgerald (Low-Income)

Allen Co. Council on Aging

Deb Gallmeier (Public)

City of Delphos

Josh Unterbrink (Private)

Activate Allen County

Sharon Green (Low-Income)

Mercer County Council on Aging

Susan Hord (Private)

Rhodes State College

Heather Jordan (Private)(VP)

Huntington Bank

Angie King (Public)

Mercer Co. Commissioner Appointee

Jennifer Korte (Low-Income)

Auglaize Co. Educational Service Center

Ann Miles (Public)

Lima City Schools

Elizabeth Muether (Private)

Mercer Co. District Library

Norene Parish (Private)

Chamberlain Huckeriede Funeral Home

Erica Preston (Public)

Auglaize Co. Commissioner Appointee

Dan Reiff (Public)

Allen Co. Commissioner Appointee

Charlene Williams (Low-Income)

New Life Church International

Tiffany Wright (Low-Income) (VP)

Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority