Ohio County Family Resource Network Invites Community To View ‘Bright Side’ of Youth Services

WHEELING - The Ohio County Family Resource Network invites the community to virtually view "The Bright Side" of youth social services Monday night.

The OCFRN is hosting an online event during which as many as six Ohio County residents will tell their personal stories of how they benefited from local programs for children.The event is slated to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, and can be accessed through the Ohio County Family Resource Network Facebook page.

The OCFRN is partnering with other area nonprofits to bring the event to the program focusing on "good news" for the community. Also involved in the planning were representatives from CASA for Children in Wheeling and the Adolescent Health Initiative.

The goal of the outreach is to increase awareness of local programs to help youths, and how to access them.

Bright Side in Ohio County was inspired by a similar event in Fayette County arranged by their Chamber of Commerce last year, explained Claudia Raymer, executive director for OCFRN.

"With COVID we had to do everything virtually," she said. "April is child abuse prevention month, and we were looking to do something uplifting."

The event will highlight stories from Ohio County parents and foster parents, who will provide their perspectives from participating in local social service programs for youth.

Among them will be a graduate of Jobs and Hope, a newer program focusing on those seeking to re-enter the job force.

A parent whose child participates in the Laughlin Chapel after school programs will speak. In addition, a school guidance guidance counselor who refers students to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) programs will provide insight about these programs, according to Raymer.

Representatives from the social service agencies won't be part of the online discussion, but they will be participating through Facebook chat to answer any questions the public.

"The goal is to spread awareness of programs and people in Ohio County that help children live happy, healthy lives," Raymer said.

"We want to give the public an authentic voice about authentic experiences. What's more important to people is hearing from those who have used the agencies and their services, and not the agencies themselves."

OCFRN planning committee member Amanda White of The Health Plan watched the initial Fayette County "Bright Side" event, and found it uplifting and educational.

"After participating in Fayette County, I brought the idea to (Raymer) and she immediately agreed this would be a great event for Ohio County, especially in April during Child Abuse Prevention Month," White said.

This will be the second year for the Bright Side event in Ohio County

"The 2021 event was a great success, and we are looking forward to sharing more good news with the community," Raymer said.