Advocates for Families was founded in 1985 as Ashland Parenting Plus.
Since that day, there has been one goal, “to enhance the lives of families in our community by educating and empowering parents; by promoting responsible decisions regarding parenthood; and by offering opportunities for children to learn, grown and mature in a nurturing environment.”
Advocates for Families offers education-based programs for families in the Ashland County community and much of its funding comes from the United Way of Ashland County. Its programs include education for parents, diversion programs for at-risk juveniles, teenage pregnancy prevention and wrap around services for families needing extra support.
The newest addition to AFF programming is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program. The volunteer-based service program advocates on behalf of neglected and abused children that are placed in the juvenile court system. Drug dependency issues are sometimes a factor in children being removed from their homes.
The issue of drug abuse has been rampant throughout Ohio, and Ashland County has been no exception according to Catherine Swope, executive director of APP.
“Drug issues have impacted all of our programs…First the opioid crisis rolled through our community, and while we are still dealing with the aftermath of opioid addiction meth has moved into our community.”
Catherine Swope – Executive Director
Ohio is in the top five states for opioid related overdose deaths according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2016, there were over 3,500 reported overdose deaths in Ohio.
The CASA volunteer heroes are recruited locally and specially trained to handle the unique needs of each community they serve. The volunteers undertake an important role in the decisions the court makes regarding the best interest for children in the court system. The volunteers network between children’s schools, foster families, biological families and counselors to ensure the child’s wants and needs are being heard during court proceedings.
Advocates for Families currently has 10 trained community volunteers, three more in training and are recruiting for the January training session.
“There is such a big need in the Ashland community for CASA volunteers right now,” Swope emphasized.
Community outreach is AFFs’ superpower, and the nonprofit knows education at all levels is key to curbing the drug crisis. Youth outreach services is a large part of education services and AFF reaches up to 350 students in Ashland County depending on enrollment numbers for the year. Education programs include empowerment for young women and respect education for young gentlemen beginning in late elementary school and lasting throughout high school years. The program aims to inspire youths in the community to dream outside of their immediate circumstances, and consider what life in the future looks like.
AFF’s programs have been successful with the Teen Pregnancy Program lowering teenage pregnancy rates.