Community Outreach Coordinator of Richland County Children Services Brianne Kindinger was a guest speaker at Monday nights council meeting in Butler. Kindinger brought awareness of the organizations presence in the community and the need for that support to be reciprocated.
“Everybody calls us and we help them the best that we can,” said Kindinger She also added, “The pendulum has swung.”
Kindinger informed council members of the agencies need for community support for the upcoming Replacement Levy on the ballot in November. Funds generated from the levy would go to benefit the various programs RCCS sponsors in order to educate and support families in crisis. Programs such as Kinship Care, a program that strives to stabilize family situations and ensure the child’s safety while preserving and maintaining a families identity, culture and ethnicity.
As she referred to the agency’s ever constant presence in the community Kindinger shared with council that RCCS is involved with over 22 community related programs or events over the course of a year as a result of their mission to provide care and safety to children and their families across Richland County.
Kindinger said,” We are very community focused and involved.”
The levy would equal out to be approximately $35 per household a year based on a $100,000 property value. According to an annual report supplied to council by Kindinger, Ohio ranks 50 out of 50 states in support to Child Services. The importance of passing the levy Kindinger stated is crucial as local funding is leveraged through Federal Funding and if the local support is not available then in turn Federal Funding is jeopardized.
Council member Raymond Swank suggested Kindinger and the agency reach out to the Township Fire Departments in an effort to partner their reach in the community. Swank commented that the fire departments are in homes and in direct contact with families in crisis and that a connection between the two for educational purposes would greatly benefit families in need.
Mayor Kevin Carr acknowledged the work of RCCS and stated,”We appreciate everything that you do, I don’t think people always realize how hard you work and how much you do for a community.”
Council moved to go forward in support of creating awareness for the levy and approved the distribution of signs to be placed in the community.
Council member Josh Dingus commented on the positive impact the new Dollar General has made in the village since the opening stating,” It is always busy, every time I pass by, it’s great.” Dingus also added the new business Mid Ohio Tubing is showing high levels of productivity as he remarked on the activity he has witnessed,” I see trucks in and out all the time, load after load, it looks good.”