Gallia-Vinton ESC employees Jill Cox, LSW, and Emily Crabtree met with employees from Job and Family Services (JFS) on March 16, 2021, to discuss the new Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting (EMRP) grant.  JFS has contracted the Gallia-Vinton ESC to implement the EMRP grant in Gallia County with the purpose of educating teens and young adults about the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of parenting. The grant incorporates the “No Kidding Ohio: Straight Talk from Teen Parents” curriculum to explain the realities of teen parenting by those who have experienced it firsthand. Promoting responsible parenting while encouraging young people to delay parenting until they have completed their education, started a career and entered into a committed relationship will be the mission of the EMRP grant.

The meeting was held in an effort to identify key players and programs that may assist in getting the grant off and running.  JFS Business Administrator Kathy Campbell, Belinda Jones, Child Support Supervisor and Robin Payne, Employment Services Supervisor discussed programs offered through JFS and the group collaborated on ways these programs may work closely with the EMRP grant to help make it successful.