Pregnancy & Parenting Support
Discovering that you’re pregnant can be one of the most joyful moments of a person’s life. But even the most enthusiastic new parents may be unprepared — emotionally, financially, and educationally — for the joy, challenges, and occasional heartbreak of parenthood.
This is why Catholic Social Services is committed to providing a continuum of exceptional programs to support mothers and fathers throughout their experience. CSSMV’s programs can help young, first-time, or struggling parents successfully make the journey from pregnancy to a healthy birth to effective parenting. We also provide support for adoptive parents and kinship caregivers, to assist with the special challenges these situations can present.
RideLink Call Center
Connecting Individuals to Transportation Options
Are you in need of transportation to a doctor’s appointment but don’t know who to call? Are you running low on groceries but you don’t have reliable transportation? Is your prescription ready to be picked up at the pharmacy, but you have no way to get there?
Your link to safe, reliable and affordable transportation begins with RideLink. When you call RideLink at (833) 289-0227 ext.1195 , our staff will link you to the transportation provider that best meets your needs.
The RideLink call center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding major holidays). Callers are encouraged to plan ahead, as 24-hour notice is required for most transportation providers.
The RideLink program has been made possible by an Ohio Coordination Grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, and serves Champaign, Darke, Logan, Miami, Preble and Shelby Counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will RideLink send someone to pick me up?
No, we do not provide transportation. RideLink “links” you with transportation providers who best meet your individual needs according to desired service, location, and ability to pay.
When you call our toll-free number, you will receive a list of transportation options for medical and non-medical appointments in Champaign, Darke, Logan, Miami, Preble, and Shelby Counties. Some providers can also transport to Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and even locations in Indiana. You will be asked several questions in order to link you with providers that best meet your needs.
In most cases, after we give you the information, you are responsible for calling the provider to schedule your own trip. We can assist you in making that call if you have limited resources or an inability to connect with the transportation provider.
What will it cost me to use RideLink?
There is no cost for the call or the information we provide. There may be a fee for transportation services depending on the provider you choose.
Do you have "preferred" providers that you recommend?
Our goal is to give you as many options as possible. When you call RideLink, you will be asked several questions in order to link you with providers that best meet your needs.
We do not recommend one provider over another. It is still your choice of what provider to contact once you have the information.
What are you doing to make more options available?
While RideLink has indeed helped individuals find rides, it has also become clear that there just aren’t enough resources for many of the callers.
“The Federal Transit Administration requires agencies getting funds to have transportation plans,” says CSSMV Mobility Manger Michelle Caserta-Bixler. With that goal in mind, Caserta-Bixler is now also serving as the Mobility Manager for Shelby, Darke and Champaign Counties, working with community stakeholders to update transportation plans. She is also working with the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) to address the challenges of transportation for the elderly and disabled across a nine-county region.
What if I feel I’ve been discriminated against by RideLink?
Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form. The Agency investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident.
CLICK HERE for the complaint procedure and form.
“RideLink has been a vital tool in gathering data about the transportation situation and the lack of affordable and available options. With data, we can work to effect change,” says CSSMV Mobility Manager Michelle Caserta-Bixler.
Made possible by a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), RideLink has uncovered gaping holes in the transportation scenario and provided CSSMV with opportunities to help improve the system.
Our Counseling Team
Dayton Counseling Center
Cheryl Lobbestael-Griffin, LISW-S, BCN
Years in Practice: 20+ years
Population: Adults, children, families and groups
Specialties: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, complex trauma, adoption related issues, Reactive Attachment Disorder
Therapeutic Approach: Psychodynamic, mindfulness, trauma informed, attachment therapies, cognitive approaches
Degree: MSW from University of Michigan
Licensing: Licensed Independent Social Work, with supervisory credentials (LISW-S) Certified in EEG-Neurofeedback (BCN)
Licensed by: Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Sidney Counseling Center
Larry G. Grisby, MS, LPC
Years in Practice: 2 years
Population: Children, adolescents, and adults
Specialties: Children and adolescents, especially those with criminal records; disabled population
Degrees: BS in Psychology from Morehead University; MS in Criminal Justice from Tiffin University; MS in Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University
Licensing: Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed by: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Dayton Counseling Center
Lisa A. Schauer, LPCC
Years of Practice: 11 years
Population: Adults, Couples, Adolescents 16 yrs. and above
Specialties: Community medical and behavioral health integration, victims of domestic violence, planning and linking to community resources, depression, anxiety
Therapy Approach: Client Centered, Solution Focused, Cognitive-Behavioral, Psycho-Educational
Licensing: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Licensed Social Worker
Licensed by: Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Sidney Counseling Center
Bonnie Ihle, MS, LPCC
Years in practice: 4+ years
Population: Children, adolescents, adults, families, developmentally disabled and veterans
Specialties: Depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, anger concerns, PTSD, trauma informed care, marriage and couples
Degree: MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University
Licensing: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Licensed by: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Dayton Counseling Center
Denetta Harris, MSW, LSW, CATP
Years in Practice: Since 2009
Population: Adults, children, families, and groups
Specialties: Children, families, trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and assessment
Therapeutic Approach: Psychodynamic, mindfulness, trauma informed, attachment therapies, cognitive behavioral approaches
Degree: MSW from University of Cincinnati
Licensing: Licensed Social Worker
Licensed by: Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for the State of Ohio
Additional Credentials: Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional (CATP)
Sidney Counseling Center
Michelle Paulus, MS, LPCC-S
Years in Practice: 20+ years practice working with children, couples, families, individuals, and developmentally disabled population
Specialties: Treatment of emotional and social issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment issues; focus on mental and developmentally disabled individuals, marriage and couples issues, spirituality, early childhood intervention, and parenting skills
Degrees: AA in Communication from Sinclair College, BA in Psychology from University of Dayton, MSEd in Social Agency Counseling from University of Dayton, and Post Graduate in Clinical Counseling from University of Dayton
Licensing: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, with supervisory credentials (LPCC-S)
Licensed by: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board
Dayton Counseling Center
Shelia Wright Davis, Office Support Manager
Shelia has been with the Dayton Counseling Center since 1980– an incredible 41 years! When you visit or call the Dayton location, Shelia is the friendly face (or voice) who will greet you, help answer your questions about our services, and set you up with an appointment with a counselor who best meets your needs.
FoodSource
Staff in our Northern Counties office launched FoodSource as a small pilot program in 2017. Managed in cooperation with the Shared Harvest Food Bank and the Western Ohio Foodbank, the program helps meet the food insecurity challenges of isolated, low-income seniors. Once a month, 40-pound boxes of staple food items are delivered to people in need in Darke, Shelby and Miami Counties. At this time, the program serves individuals over the age of 60 who are isolated. An assessment is completed to determine need and slot availability.
CSSMV’s experience operating their Choice Food Pantry in Dayton, along with their experience serving seniors in the rural counties, makes them a perfect partner for Shared Harvest to meet the growing number of people who are experiencing food insecurity in rural communities.
Family Stabilization & Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept walk-ins?
We only accept walk-ins on Mondays between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, on a first-come, first-served basis.
We do NOT accept walk-ins for utility assistance; CLICK HERE for more information.
In general, we recommend that you make an appointment so that a case manager can have ample time to spend with you and help you with your needs. This also allows the case manager to plan ahead for your visit, and have relevant information and materials ready for you when you arrive.
Do you provide financial assistance?
The only financial assistance we are able to provide is limited utility assistance through our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. (CLICK HERE for more information.)
Can you help me create a household budget?
Yes! We believe that financial empowerment is an incredibly important goal for our FSS clients. This may or may not be one of the first steps in your case management plan, depending on your unique situation.
What are "Budget Bucks"?
Individuals who attend our FSS classes, information sessions and other events earn Budget Bucks for each session they attend. You can redeem your Budget Bucks at the “Budget Bucks Boutique” for various household and personal items such as cooking utensils, towels, and jewelry.
The goal of our Family Stabilization & Support (FSS) program is to help our clients escape the vicious cycle of poverty by building on their own strengths and their aspirations for themselves and their families. Many of the people we serve struggle with unemployment or underemployment, lack of education and job skills, poor health and nutrition, lack of access to transportation, and unstable housing situations. Some have a background of multi-generational poverty, while others have experienced a series of life events that have taken their lives in the wrong direction. Our job is to help them identify and set realistic goals that will allow them to take positive steps toward making a better life for themselves and their families. Clients who choose to work one-on-one with our FSS case managers might receive help identifying the next steps to improve their employment or housing situation, continuing their education, or learning to set and follow a budget. Our case managers also utilize the Ohio Benefit Bank to connect families and individuals to benefits for which they are eligible. Sometimes for a person who is feeling overwhelmed by problems and challenges, the first step is simply figuring out where to start. Recognizing that a group setting can sometimes be less intimidating for clients, the FSS team also offers a variety of resource event sessions focusing on topics such as wellness and stress management, financial empowerment, health and nutrition.
Resources offered through FSS include:
Eckerle Administration Center
922 West Riverview Avenue
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 223-7217 or (800) 300-2937
General email: cssmv@cssmv.org