May 2023

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CASC helps people turn around lives

The Clermont County Community Alternative Sentencing Center (CASC) continues to help people with substance use disorders begin a new start.


More than nine of 10 clients who completed the CASC program in 2022 were not incarcerated again, the Board of County Commissioners learned on April 19.


Heather Cokl, associate vice president of addiction services, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCB), (right, in photo) and Sarah Baldridge, CASC program manager, (left) told Commissioners that CASC admitted 164 clients in 2022. Nine of 10 males and 87 percent of females completed the program.


CASC serves community members who are struggling with substance use disorders and are connected to the Clermont County Municipal Court system. The program is located on the same campus as the Clermont County Jail facility. It collaborates with Clermont Municipal Probation.


Read more here

Outdoor activity boosts mental health

The benefits of time outside to our mental well-being are profound – but not well known. Spending time in nature results in greater creativity, lower stress, increased self-esteem, and reduced anxiety. The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board encourages our community members to make use of our natural resources here in Clermont County to promote mental health.


Spending time in nature can act as a calming agent for our busy brains. Research has shown that interacting with nature has cognitive benefits:


*Green spaces near schools promote cognitive development in children and green views near children’s homes promote self-control behaviors. 

*Adults in public housing neighborhoods with more green space showed better attentional functioning than those assigned to units with less access to natural environments. 

*Experiments have found that being exposed to natural environments improves working memory, cognitive flexibility, and attentional control.

-Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 28, No. 5, 2019


Luckily, here in Clermont County, we have amazing park districts, two state parks, and other natural resources such as Valley View in Milford, Little Miami Scenic Trail, and Rowe Woods Nature Center.  

Take some time in May to slow down and be present, take a walk in some of our amazing green spaces, find a sunny spot to journal or read, or create your own calming green space by planting your favorite flowers or foods. Mental health is a critical part of overall wellness.


https://www.valleyviewcampus.org/

https://www.clermontparks.org/home/


Read more here

Dispatchers provide valuable service to many

The Board of County Commissioners designated April 9-15 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.


Clermont County Public Safety Services’ 911 Communication Center answers about 140,000 phone calls per year. Out of that, about 54,000 are 911 calls and 86,000 are non-emergency calls. The center enters about 88,000 police details a year and around 22,000 Fire/EMS details per year. The calls can be anything from a house on fire, a robbery, animal complaint or noise complaint. Each call is different. The busiest day of the week is usually Friday.


The center has three to four dispatchers on per shift, including at least one supervisor. The dispatchers work 12-hour shifts.


“We have almost 170 years of experience between all of our dispatchers,” said Jessica Wiederhold, Director, Clermont County Department of Public Safety. “A lot of our dispatchers are also putting in a lot of overtime due to the low staffing level, but they still come to work and put forth all the effort they can give. 


Read more here

Legislators hear about childhood challenges

State legislators from our area learned about the unique challenges Clermont County faces regarding early childhood mental health needs, childcare access and capacity and the increasing shortage of qualified professionals to care for our most precious national resource.


The Clermont County Early Childhood Coordinating Committee (EC3) in partnership with Groundwork Ohio and the SWO Association for the Education of Young Children hosted the legislators on March 27 at CNE Preschool in Owensville. The Legislative Early Child Open House was held as lawmakers turned their attention to the state budget.

$6.4 million in road resurfacing projects planned

The Board of County Commissioners on March 29 awarded the bid for the 2023 Road Resurfacing Program in various townships and municipalities to Barrett Paving Materials of Middletown.


Barrett submitted the lowest and best bid of $6.4 million. For a full list of roads in the program, click here

Work begins on Bethel-Batavia pipeline

Duke Energy will begin construction on the new Bethel-Batavia natural gas pipeline in Clermont County in May. The pipeline will continue to serve Ohio customers as demand continues to grow. The eastern portion of Duke's Ohio service area continues to see job and population growth, as businesses want to locate here, and people want to live here. Infrastructure is needed to support this growth, from highways and roadways to public utilities like natural gas and electricity. 


Duke Energy anticipates construction to be completed by the end of 2023, with restoration work continuing into spring 2024. Additional information about the Bethel-Batavia Natural Gas Pipeline Project can be found on the project website, along with contact details for the project team should customers have questions or require assistance.


"We look forward to enhancing our natural gas system to meet the growing needs in the eastern area and to prime the region for continued growth," according to the Duke Energy newsletter.


Grants available for home repairs for low income

woman_holding_little_house.jpg

The Board of County Commissioners executed a contract on April 19 to award $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for critical home repairs in Clermont County. 


Income-eligible homeowners will be able to receive assistance with emergency repairs such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or roof leaks through this partnership with People Working Cooperatively (PWC). (Income limits are up to 50 percent of the area median income, so for a family of four this is $47,750 or less.) 

PWC is a nonprofit that provides professional, critical home repair, weatherization, and accessibility modification services for low-income homeowners throughout 20 counties in the Greater Cincinnati area.


Read more here

Commissioners pursue HOME program

The Board of County Commissioners now has the opportunity to become a participating local jurisdiction in the HOME program funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Commissioners on March 22 approved the establishment of the HOME Investment Partnership Fund. 


The HOME program provides formula grants yearly, similar to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), but specifically to increase affordable housing for groups such as seniors, veterans, and working families. The Board of Commissioners took the first step, by notifying HUD of their intent to participate, in order to bring almost $600,000 annually to Clermont County for this program. 


Studies show people who are in both decent and affordable housing earn more over their lifetime, live longer, and their children do better in school. Addressing housing affordability is the most cost-effective way of lifting people out of poverty, reducing childhood poverty and increasing economic mobility. HOME funds can help locally by supporting a diverse mix of housing options for our workforce and citizens. 


These funds can be combined with other federal, state, private, and non-profit, and state sources of funds to create affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for our county. Additional steps must be taken this year such as amending the 5-year consolidated plan with HUD. The Board of County Commissioners supports a mix of housing developments and opportunities so that families of almost any income level can thrive in Clermont County.

SR 32 interchange receives state funding

A new interchange on State Route 32 at Glen-Este Withamsville Road in Clermont County has received $8.4 million in funding.


The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) on March 29 unanimously approved the annual list of projects to receive funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation's Major New Capacity Program over the next four years. It includes nearly $392 million in new funding commitments for 27 projects. This includes $167.4 million for project development and $224.5 million for construction.


Read more here

Check out these great job opportunities

Clermont County is hiring for a variety of positions in areas such as Water Resources, Animal Shelter, Job and Family Services and more.


These are great jobs in the public retirement systems with good benefits and the opportunity for growth.


To see what's available, click here

Library offers ABCmouse home access

ABCmouse is an award-winning digital education program that has been available inside Clermont County Public Library branches for a number of years. Now, as part of the library’s goal to be a school-readiness resource for parents, the library is offering ABCmouse Home Access for Libraries. This gives parents access to ABCmouse from home or the library at no cost. All they need is an active library card.


The program offers more than 10,000 interactive activities that use books, games, puzzles, art, songs, music videos, and more. Lessons include 2,000 STEM and 1,200 Spanish-language learning experiences. Children ages 2-8 can learn reading, language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music through exciting activities. 


Parents can learn more about ABCmouse Home Access for Libraries by clicking on the Kids or Databases pages at ClermontLibrary.org or by calling a branch library and talking to a staff member.


Free monthly nutrition classes at JFS

OSU Extension SNAP-Ed and Clermont County Job and Family Services are excited to partner to provide nutrition education to Clermont County. Participants learn to stay healthy while on a limited budget. 


The free classes take place on the last Monday of the month at 10 a.m. at JFS, 2400 Clermont Center Dr, Batavia, OH 45103.

 

Classes include a healthy food tasting and participants can visit the MyChoice food pantry at Job and Family Services.

Extension office hosts Master Gardner classes

OSU Extension is hosting a Southern Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer Training class. Beginning May 31 and ending Aug. 9, classes will be held every Wednesday, 9 a.m.-noon., with an hour lunch break, then 1-4 p.m. You will be required to attend all the classes listed to complete the 50 hours of training.


Training will be offered in-person Wednesdays at Southern State Community College, 351 Brooks-Malott Road, Mt. Orab.


The class costs $200 plus the cost of a required background check. The background check can be done upon acceptance into the class. Register here and pay by cash, check, or credit card. Deadline is May 17.

Soil and Water offers tips for creating buffers

If your house is located along a stream, you know it may be a babbling brook most days but after a heavy rain, it can become a roiling river. The best way to get along with your stream is to protect the edge with a buffer strip of native plants. The Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District has some reasons why stream buffers are important and has tips on how to create one.


Article at https://www.clermontswcd.org/2023/03/be-the-change-for-clean-water/


Photo shows a buffer behind homes along O’Bannon Creek.


Recipe of the Month

Clermont County | 101 E. Main Street | Batavia OH 45103 | 513.732.7300 |
Office of Public Information | 513.732.7597 | mboehmer@clermontcountyohio.gov
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