About Us
CHFS provides comprehensive programming to increase self-sufficiency for individuals by improving educational outcomes among vulnerable groups, which in turn builds necessary resiliencies and competencies to protect against poverty, child abuse/neglect, and incarceration while developing capacity for civic engagement and economic empowerment.
✓ Educational Enrichment: Through a partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund, CHFS delivers the Freedom Schools after school enrichment programs that foster family engagement, and builds literacy, conflict resolution, and reading skills. National evaluations have shown that behavior has improved, and standardized reading scores have increased by 2.2 grade levels among participants. CHFS also provides math literacy programming that increases chances for successful college transition, reduces disproportionate placements in remedial college courses, and builds community capacity for civic engagement.
✓ Early Childhood Education and Development: Our Creative Village Child Development Center (CV), serves children ages 0-12. Using best practices and other culturally relevant teaching practices,CHFS/CV is able to build excitement for learning and foster social and emotional development among young children and families. Leadership skills and community involvement are emphasized among school age children and parents. Through the use of strengths-based approaches, CV also works to reduce achievement gaps between children of different ethnicities and socioeconomic status.
✓Supplemental Education Services: CHFS provides supplemental education services to students in Title I schools that have been in school improvement status for two years or more. CHFS provides tutoring services to these students in alignment with the Ohio Department of Education content standards, and uses culturally responsive, strengths based, and evidence informed practices.
✓Health and Wellness Education: Through the Jericho Road Agricultural Project (JRAP), CHFS teaches children and adults agricultural skills, nutrition awareness, the importance of soil, and the basic need for plants to be nurtured and cared for. JRAP provides access to nutritionally rich produce, and places for physical activity otherwise unavailable to many families and individuals. JRAP encourages both youth and adults to participate in planting, harvesting, and selling produce to the community, thus offering opportunities for individuals to work collaboratively in improving neighborhood quality. JRAP works in partnership with Toledo Grows and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
✓ Job Readiness Support and Education: CHFS, provides 1) employment support services including consultation on resume building, successful interviewing, and socialization skills needed to secure and maintain meaningful employment; 2) interview clothing and uniforms to over 400 clients annually; 3) access, through network of local and regional partners, to emerging opportunities in “green” energy activities, infrastructure-building, community development/revitalization, and economic development; and, 4) debt management and financial empowerment education to help maximize the benefit of employment.
✓ High Qulaity, Energy-Efficient Housing: CHFS, working with various partners, including the City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods, is involved in development activities in order to increase the availability of quality and energy-efficient housing to people of diverse incomes.
