Home-Based Support & Education
/in Montgomery, Pregnancy & Parenting Services /by atomicParentLink
Home-Based Support & Education for Young Parents
To learn more about the home-based parenting support available to you, please CLICK here.
Parenting Services Inquiry Form
If you would like someone from Catholic Social Services' parenting services team to get in touch with you, please provide us with the information below. We will contact you within two business days or less.
Taking care of a child can be confusing and difficult. If you’re struggling to manage your new life as a parent or parent-to-be, you might benefit from working with a professional family life coach from Catholic Social Services.
Our home visiting services are free and available to young moms and dads. If you’re expecting a child or you’re the parent of a child who has not yet started kindergarten, you’re eligible to participate.
Our goal is to provide education and support to help pregnant and parenting young people gain confidence as you work to raise a healthy, happy child and take care of your own well-being at the same time.
Catholic Social Services’ home visiting services include:
- Assessment of your individual needs
- Home-based parenting preparation and education incorporating the Nurturing Parenting curriculum
- One-on-one support as you gain the skills and knowledge to become a nurturing parent
- Help with setting and prioritizing parenting and personal goals
- Support and advocacy to help you meet your goals
- Career development support
- Referrals to the local network of helping services
Services are available to mothers and fathers, regardless of whether you’re living together as a couple or co-parenting from separate households.
Eligibility
Our home-based parent education services are available to residents of Auglaize, Darke, Greene, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby Counties. Call us to see if you meet program eligibility guidelines.
Contact
For more information, please call (937) 299-LINK / 299-5465.
Location
Services are provided at the client’s home.
Program staff are based at our Center for Families in Dayton and at our Northern Counties Office in Sidney.
Supervised Visitation
/in Assists Children, Montgomery, Supervised Visitation & Exchange, Top Level Program Category /by atomicSupervised Visitation

Referral and Application Forms
After going through the Council on Accreditation (COA) review process for the first time in 2017, Erma’s House was held up as “a model for other organizations.”
In a perfect world, parents would never need to have supervised visitation with their children. But sometimes, in addition to losing custody, parents are deemed — by the courts, safety net professionals, children’s services, and sometimes even by themselves — as not being in a good place to spend unsupervised time with their own children.
As these parents work to remediate their personal issues, it remains important for them to retain, and perhaps repair, their relationship with their children in a safe, monitored and judgement-free environment. In Montgomery County, Catholic Social Services’ supervised visitation program has been meeting that need since 1997 at Erma’s House Family Visitation Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would someone need supervised visitation?
The need for supervised visitation may be due to issues related to divorce or separation, protection or restraining orders between parties, child abuse or neglect issues, safety concerns or other issues where a neutral setting can increase a family’s level of comfort or safety. Supervised visitation provides an opportunity for children to maintain relationships with their noncustodial parents while these issues are being resolved.
What services are available at Erma’s House?
Located just a few minutes south of downtown Dayton, Erma’s House Family Visitation Center offers a warm, friendly atmosphere where children can spend time with their noncustodial parents.
Erma’s House was created to assist families who have difficulty interacting in an appropriate, non-threatening manner. This comfortable, home-like setting is a safe, structured, neutral alternative to unsupervised visits. The facility and its “house rules” are structured to provide safety to both the children and the parents/guardians.
Supervised Visits / Parenting Time
Visits between children and their noncustodial parents are closely observed by trained visitation monitors who document activities and who will intervene, if necessary, to ensure the physical or emotional safety of the child.
Supervised Exchanges
Exchanges are for parents who do not require supervised visitation, but who need to be able to make the exchange without interacting with the other parent. The exchange is monitored by a visitation supervisor.
When are these services available?
Erma’s House hosts supervised visits on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and on Sunday afternoons. Most visits last one to two hours, and a variety of toys, games and activities are available for families’ use during visits.
Supervised exchanges are offered on Wednesday evenings, Fridays and Sundays, every other week.
The scheduling of visitations and exchanges is managed by the staff of Erma’s House, with input from the parents/guardians.
Who supervises the visits?
Erma’s House has staff, volunteers and interns who are thoroughly trained to monitor and document each visit, as well as to appropriately intervene if necessary. Their primary concern is ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone using the center.
How do families gain access to Erma’s House?
To utilize the services at Erma’s House, a family must be referred by a third party such as Montgomery County Children Services, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a guardian ad litem (GAL), a mental health professional or social worker, or the family or criminal courts.
At least one of the parents/guardians must live in Montgomery County.
How do children benefit from supervised visitation?
It allows the children to maintain a relationship with both of their parents, something that is generally found to be an important factor in the positive adjustment to family dissolution.
It allows them to anticipate the visits without the stress of worrying about what is going to happen, and to enjoy them in a safe, comfortable environment without having to be put in the middle of their parents’ conflict and/or other problems.
How do custodial parents benefit from supervised visitation?
You do not have to communicate or have contact with a person with whom you are in conflict or by whom you might be frightened or intimidated. The arrangements can be made by a neutral party, and there does not have to be contact between the parents/guardians before, during, or after the visits.
You can relax and feel comfortable allowing your child to have contact with the other parent, and you can get some valuable time to yourself.
How do non-custodial parents benefit from supervised visitation?
You can be sure that your contact with your children does not have to be interrupted, regardless of any personal or interpersonal problems you may be having.
If allegations have been made against you, which is often the case when supervision is ordered, you can visit without fear of any new accusations because there is someone present who can verify what happened during your time together. When using a professional service like Erma’s House, you can also be assured that the supervisors are neutral and objective.
What is the history of Erma’s House?

The original Erma’s House facility was next door to the current location at CSSMV’s Center for Families.
The Montgomery County Child Protection Task Force was convened in 1993 by the Board of County Commissioners in response to the community’s growing concern about child protection issues. In February of 1995, their year-long study resulted in a 90-page report titled “A Community That Supports Families and Protects Children.” Based on the 56 recommendations in the report, a Child Protection Work Group was formed and began working toward the establishment of a Family Visitation Center.
Enter Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley. With collaboration and support from community partners such as Miami Valley Hospital, Junior League of Dayton, Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court, Dayton Municipal Court, Montgomery County Juvenile Court, Montgomery County Children Services, the Board of MRDD (now known as the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services), the City of Dayton, the University of Dayton, and other social service agencies, Catholic Social Services was approached to operate the new family visitation center. An advisory board from the community partners was formed to assist in developing policies and procedures, house rules, set-up details, and furnishings.
The intent was to design a program to establish a safe, home-like environment where children could visit with their non-residential parents in an atmosphere conducive to a nurturing interchange between the parent and child.
When Erma’s House Family Visitation Center opened in 1997, its home was the building on Brown Street that had housed Womanline, an organization dedicated to counseling and helping women since 1971. (Womanline had moved to a new location.) Nine years later, in August of 2006, Erma’s House relocated to the new Catholic Social Services Center for Families at 1046 Brown Street, where it operates today.
SUPERVISED VISITS AT ERMA’S HOUSE IN 2020

Eligibility
Families must be referred to Erma’s House by a third party such as Montgomery County Children Services, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a guardian ad litem (GAL), a mental health professional or social worker, or the family or criminal courts. At least one of the child’s parents/guardians must live in Montgomery County.
Contact
For more information about Erma’s House, call (937) 586-9586.
Location
Erma’s House
CSSMV Center for Families
1046 Brown Street
Dayton, Ohio 45409
Pregnancy & Parenting Support
/in Assists Children, Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Programs & Services, Shelby, Top Level Program Category /by atomicPregnancy & 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.
Our Counseling Team
/in Auglaize, Available To Residents, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Professional Counseling, Shelby, Specialized Counseling /by Andrea SkrlacOur 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.
Utility Assistance
/in Available To Residents, Family Stabilization & Support, Montgomery, Poverty Alleviation Services, Programs & Services /by atomicNeighbors Helping Neighbors
Utility Assistance Program

Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a great program because it benefits the working poor. If an obstacle gets in their way, we’re here to help them get through it. This is a great safety net to help them remain afloat during tough times.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors is Catholic Social Services’ utility assistance program. The idea is that people who can normally make ends meet sometimes fall behind financially due to unusual and unexpected circumstances. At this time, this program can only assist households in these seven zip codes: 45402, 45403, 45405, 45406, 45417, 45426 and 45428. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) program can provide limited funds for households that are unable to pay the bill for their electric, gas or water service, and who will be able to get financially back on track with just this small bit of assistance. Those seeking help call the NHN hotline and go through a screening process to see if they qualify for the program. If approved, they come to CSSMV and work with a case manager to set financial goals and a household budget. The intent is for the client to continue making financial progress beyond the month of the utility assistance.
How to Apply for Assistance:
The first criterion for eligibility is that you must live in one of the following Dayton (Ohio) zip codes: 45402, 45403, 45405, 45406, 45417, 45426 or 45428.
Screening calls are accepted on Mondays only, from 8:30 a.m. until appointments for the week have been filled. (This usually happens very quickly.) The number to call is (937) 223-7217 ext.1102. Walk-ins are not accepted.
During this time, calls are answered live by program screening staff. There is no option for callers to leave a message. If you get a busy signal, keep calling back. If necessary, you can try again the following week.
Appointments for the week are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, for those who meet the eligibility criteria for the program. Holidays and funding variation may impact scheduling; changes in the schedule will be posted in the recorded message you’ll hear when you call.
Eligibility
Neighbors Helping Neighbors serves residents of seven zip codes in the City of Dayton: 45402, 45403, 45405, 45406, 45417, 45426 and 45428.
For a screening to see if you meet financial guidelines, please call.
Contact
Screening calls are accepted on Mondays only, from 8:30 until appointments for the week have been filled. This happens very quickly. Call (937) 223-7217 ext.1102. Walk-ins are NOT accepted.
Location
Catholic Social Services
Eckerle Administration Center
922 W. Riverview Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Family Stabilization & Support
/in Auglaize, Available To Residents, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Poverty Alleviation Services, Preble, Programs & Services, Shelby /by atomicFamily 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:
Eligibility
There are no specific eligibility criteria to participate in the FSS program. Prospective clients just need to be able to meet with a case manager at our W. Riverview Avenue location.
Contact
For more information about available services or to schedule an appointment, call (937) 223-7217 ext.1116 and leave a message. A case manager will call you back as quickly as possible.
Location
Eckerle Administration Center
922 W. Riverview Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Families Forward at Kiser Elementary
/in Available To Residents, Family Stabilization & Support, Montgomery, Poverty Alleviation Services, Programs & Services /by atomicFamilies Forward

In 2017, with support from Montgomery County Human Services, we launched a pilot program called “Families Forward” at Kiser Elementary in North Dayton. The goal is to provide parents with resources and goal-setting supports that will result in more stable home environments, greater stability in school enrollment and attendance, and improved educational outcomes.
All families at Kiser are invited to participate in the program through family engagement events. Each event features a family-centered activity and a healthy meal provided by The House of Bread. Families are encouraged to continue supporting and engaging in their children’s education, and are offered services if they have specific needs.
A full-time Family Advocate engages with parents as they work toward goals for their families and helps them decrease the obstacles that can get in their way. When needed, she also helps them learn about and gain access to community resources like food and clothing pantries and utility assistance programs. She is available to assist with developing a household budget, and can work with them to complete public benefit applications.
Kiser Elementary was chosen for the pilot because the students and families there are diverse, with over 40% of its approximately 560 students coming from immigrant or refugee families and 33% being English Language Learners. This diversity presents an opportunity for CSSMV to help families who are still adjusting to life in the United States.
A program collaborator, the University of Dayton’s Empowering Children with Hope and Opportunity (ECHO), expands the project reach by offering similar supportive services at four urban Catholic schools in Dayton.
Eligibility
All families with children attending Kiser Elementary in Dayton are eligible to participate.
Contact
For more information, contact Kim Bowling, LSW, at (937) 223-7217 ext.1114.
Location
Kiser Elementary
1401 Leo Street
Dayton, Ohio 45404
Choice Food Pantry
/in Assists Children, Montgomery, Poverty Alleviation Services /by atomicChoice Food Pantry

Thanks to our key partners:
COVID-19 UPDATE
The health and safety of our clients, staff and volunteers are of paramount importance to us. Our Choice Food Pantry in Dayton is open during normal hours, but in order to reduce person-to-person contact as much as possible, we are providing prepackaged boxes of food instead of operating under our normal “choice” model.
Catholic Social Services’ Choice Food Pantry is one of the busiest pantries in Montgomery County, serving residents of neighborhoods in west and northwest Dayton with especially high rates of poverty, unemployment and underemployment.
While many food pantries are only open once or twice a week, we are open Monday through Friday mornings to meet the needs of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. (The only exceptions are major holidays and the first Friday of each month.)
Pantry clients include the working poor, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Clients can also access the services of a case manager who can provide information and linkages to other necessary social service programs, and can also provide one-on-one case management through our Family Stabilization & Support program.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the pantry open?
Our pantry is open on Monday through Friday, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
We are CLOSED on the first Friday of every month, and on major holidays.
How much food do you give people?
Those who are eligible to access our pantry can receive full service once every 30 days. Based on the size of the household, we provide enough food to last for about five days. Emergency food pantries like ours are designed to supplement the food people can purchase for themselves with their own income and other benefits like SNAP.
We do also make fresh produce available on a daily basis, with no restriction on how often clients can come back for just these items.
What if I‘m homebound and can’t get to the pantry?
If you are homebound, you must send us the following items along with a signed note requesting service and a phone number where we can contact you.
- ID for all members of the household — photo ID for adults; insurance cards for children
- Proof of your address in one of our service zip codes
- Documentation of household income below 200% of poverty level
Call (937) 223-7217 ext.1101 if you have questions about this documentation.
What if I need food, but don’t live in your service area?
Area food pantries are designated to serve residents of specific zip codes. If you live in the Dayton area and need to find a food pantry for your zip code, you can call United Way’s 24-hour “HelpLink 2-1-1” service, at (937) 225-3000.
What is a "choice" pantry?
Instead of receiving a pre-packaged box or bag of groceries from our pantry, our clients get to select the items they want based on their household size. The “choice” model respects the dignity of the client, and also helps reduce waste, as people aren’t taking home food items their families don’t like or might even be allergic to.
Where does the food come from?
Most of the food we distribute comes to us through The Foodbank. We also receive donations from individuals, families, churches, businesses, schools and other community partners. Because we sometimes have need of items that have not come to us through these sources, we do also supplement our pantry shelves with items purchased through a wholesale source.
Can I volunteer in the pantry?
The Choice Food Pantry relies on many volunteers, and we’re always looking for more. We work with both individuals and groups, and volunteer service can be a one-time or ongoing opportunity. Call our volunteer coordinator at (937) 223-7217 ext.1130 for more information.
How many people does CSSMV’s pantry serve?
Here are some statistics from 2019:
- 15,887 unduplicated* clients were served.
- 6,087 unique* families/households were served.
- We made 1,010 service referrals so pantry clients could get additional assistance from other programs or agencies.
*Each client or family/household was only counted once, regardless of the number of times they were served by the pantry.
Eligibility
Eligibility requires household income below 200% of poverty level.
You must provide proof of your home address in the 45402, 45405, 45406, 45417 or 45428 zip code.
You must bring ID for all members of the household. (Photo ID for adults; insurance cards for children.)
Contact
For more information about pantry services and eligibility, or if you’re interested in donating food items, please call (937) 223-7217 ext.1101.
Location
922 W. Riverview Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Pantry entrance is on the Orth Avenue side of the building.

Eckerle Administration Center
922 West Riverview Avenue
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 223-7217 or (800) 300-2937
General email: cssmv@cssmv.org
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Latest News
- Generations CampaignApril 27, 2022 - 7:15 pm
At Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley’s Annual Meeting on April 27, CEO Laura Roesch announced the public phase of a five-year comprehensive campaign inspired by the desire to broaden and enhance the agency’s impact as it enters its second century of service. The Generations Campaign will run through 2025, with a total fundraising goal of $10,000,000.