December News: Happy Holidays from the Council for Economic Opportunities

December 2016: The Council's turnaround story workshop is a hit at the National Head Start Association conference

Earlier this month, Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm, president and CEO of the Council for Economic Opportunities, and members of the Council's leadership team joined Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director of the National Head Start Association (NHSA) for their NHSA conference presentation:

The Resurrection of a Community Action Agency and Head Start Program.

The National Head Start Association in Washington, D.C. selected the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland's Head Start program as a national "Bright Spot" for its turnaround within two years.

The Council's leadership team presented its success story at the NHSA's annual training conference for parents, staff, and leadership.

"We call hard work like that of the Council for Economic Opportunities' a Bright Spot and see Cleveland's Head Start success story as an occasion to provide colleagues in the Head Start and early childhood communities across the country with wisdom and peer learning," said Vinci. She also expressed gratitude for the Head Start Advantage the Council team provides for the vulnerable children and families in Cleveland.

NHSA's annual Parent, Staff, and Leadership Training Conference is the only national event that focuses on how communities, parents, families, and Head Start program staff can best partner to promote both parent and family engagement and children's learning and development. Attendees at this conference include parents, parent leaders, policy council and governing board members, agency staff engaged in family engagement services, agency leadership, and community partners.

Enroll in Head Start in the New Year!

Start your new year in Head Start! Spots are filling quickly, but seats are still available for the 2016-17 preschool year. Once full enrollment has been reached at a center, a waiting list is started.

- To begin enrollment right now online, click here.

- To talk with a staff member about enrolling, call (216) 589-9922.

- To see a list of centers and the numbers to call to check availability, click here.

Studies show that a child's first 2,000 days of life are the most formative. Preschool offers the chance for children to develop their social and academic skills in a safe, informative environment. Research shows kids who attend preschool have a greater chance for long-term success in life. The Council for Economic Opportunities offers high-quality preschool education to income-eligible families in Cuyahoga County.

- To learn more about the Council's high-quality Head Start program (3-5 years old), click here. - To get more information about Early Head Start (birth-3 years) click here.
- To see a complete listing of our four-and-five star locations, click here.

Personal + Professional Development Workshops

The Council for Economic Opportunities offers personal and professional development workshops each month to help income-eligible Cleveland residents learn new skills, become better job candidates and hopefully get the job they've been hoping for. Workshops are held at our Neighborhood Opportunity Centers. For a list of our centers, click here.

Click the links below for the times and locations of the upcoming workshop offerings:

January 3 - January 20 : Microsoft Office Training Workshop

Do you have a basic grasp of Microsoft Office but want to learn more, ask questions and sharpen your skills? The Council will host a five day Microsoft Office workshop to help you advance your knowledge in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Upon completion, customers will test for the IC3 Certification which covers MOS Applications, Internet and computer fundamentals. Also upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a free refurbished computer and access to reduced rate Internet service and Wi-Fi!

Seating is limited and you must register in advance. To register for this workshop, please call Kayla Morales at (216) 651-5188.

January 9 - February 17 : International Certified Customer Service Training Program

If you're looking to improve your computer skills and become a certified customer service representative, this is the workshop for you! The curriculum offers interactive instruction that gets you ready for real-world experience. You'll learn financial literacy, digital literacy and customer interaction skills. After successfully completing the course, you will receive a certificate from the International Customer Service Association.

Seating is limited and you must register in advance. To register for this workshop, please call Kayla Morales at (216) 651-5188.

January 17 - January 20 : Job Readiness Workshop

Job Readiness sessions are an integral part of Workforce Development programs. The four-day standalone workshops for Cuyahoga County residents are available to help those seeking employment to assess their job skills, improve and prepare a proper resume, learn interviewing skills and applying for work online. Residents who attend the workshop will receive an electronic copy of their updated resume on a mobile computer drive.

Seating is limited and you must register in advance. To register for this workshop, please call Kayla Morales at (216) 651-5188.

January 24 : Job Placement Workshop

*Please note that students must complete the Job Readiness Workshop prior to receiving job placement assistance.

Greater Cleveland is fortunate to be experiencing a renaissance with new and expanding industries from health care to hotel and hospitality to manufacturing and shipping. There are jobs out in the workforce, it's a matter of matching potential job candidates with available jobs. The Council for Economic Opportunities job placement coaches will work with you in one-on-one sessions to teach how to look for the right job.

To enroll in this one-day workshop, please call Kayla Morales at (216) 651-5188.

January 24 - May 16 : Domestic Violence Workshop

Practicing self-control is vital in relationships and in our daily living. The Council's licensed social workers use a curriculum called

Creating a Process of Change for Men Who Batter. We are able to walk you through this difficult topic and provide strategies to deal with anger in a non-violent way. This workshop will assist men in resolving conflicts to avoid self-defeating consequences. We realize that domestic violence affects both men and women and impacts the entire family. We are able to provide resources to treat all who are involved. Successful participants will receive a certificate at the conclusion of the workshop.

To register, please contact Carl Paoletta (216) 357-2621 ext. 617 or Wally Espada (216) 357-2621 ext. 619.

January 25 - March 15 : Anger Management Workshop

Anger is a normal human emotion - but how do you deal with it? While some people handle anger well, others may need support to manage it. Our workshops follow the curriculum laid out in the book Anger Management for the Twenty-First Century. The workshops are run by our licensed social workers and teach participants how to effectively manage their anger. Participants actively engage with our social workers, monitor their own emotions, work on communication skills and are taught how to respond instead of react. Successful participants will receive a certificate at the conclusion of the workshop.

To register, please contact Frances Brown at (216) 268-1600 ext. 618 or Wally Espada (216) 357-2621 ext. 537.

January 26 - March 16 : Parenting Workshop

The Parenting Piece by Piece workshop, lead by our licensed social workers, will train participants in child development and building healthy relationships through engaging activities that teach parents a different way to understand and manage conflicts. Our goal is to help you gain the skills needed to reduce stress which will help you be a more loving parent to your child.

Seating is limited! To register, please contact Miriam Bridget at (216) 856-1781 ext. 621.

HEAP Winter Crisis Program Continues

Winter is officially here and if feels like it outside! The temperatures have dropped around Cuyahoga County and the snow has arrived. Maintaining a reliable home heating source is essential to the comfort and safety of those in your household. Don't forget that if you qualify, the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program provides assistance in getting the lights and gas turned back on quickly or preventing shutoffs in the first place. Find out if you qualify for assistance here.

Job Board

The Council reaches out to local companies in the hospitality, medical, government, education, and manufacturing industries to compile a list of available jobs in Greater Cleveland. Many positions offer a living wage or higher, but we also include minimum wage jobs for our customers who just want to get started in the working world. We compile our Job Board every week.

Click here to see this week's job board.

Highlights from our blog:

Stories of Progress + Success

The Council's Dr. Thea Wilson named as "Crain's Cleveland Business" Educator to Watch

Dr. Thea Wilson is part of the management team, under president and CEO Jacklyn Chisholm, that has rebuilt the reputation of the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland after a stormy four years that saw the social service agency cited for deficiencies in its Head Start program and its former president and CEO, Jacqueline K. Middleton, resign amid a bribery scandal in 2015.

Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm welcomes Sen. Sherrod Brown to Head Start Center to talk about the Water Resources Development Act

Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm, President and CEO of the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland, welcomed U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to the William Patrick Day Head Start Center on Monday morning to hear more about his proposed legislation to increase funding for lead testing in Cleveland-area schools.

Follow our evolving story:

The Council for Economic Opportunities | (216) 696-9077 | ceogc.org