Behavioral and Mental Health
/in Programs & Services, Top Level Program Category /by Hope GebhartBehavioral and Mental Health
ECHO School-Based Services
/in Behavioral Health, Programs & Services /by Hope GebhartECHO
Empowering Children with Hope and Opportunity

ECHO (Empowering Children with Hope and Opportunity) is a comprehensive counseling and social emotional learning program designed to remove non-academic barriers to learning for students in grades K-12. The University of Dayton developed this model for area Catholic schools, and CSSMV is partnering with UD to use the model in rural public schools.
ECHO includes a social and emotional learning curriculum, in-school counseling sessions for referred students, professional development for teachers, and case management services for at-risk families.
We are currently providing ECHO school-based counseling in two public school districts in Shelby County — Hardin-Houston and Russia Schools. We are also exploring the possibility of expanding the services to other area schools.
In 2024, CSSMV staff presented Second Step education to 455 students, and CSSMV counselors provided one-on-one counseling to 70 students of varying ages at the schools during the day.
“The ECHO program enables us to teach students necessary skills that will impact them all through life,” said Erin Meyer, Northern Office Assistant Director. “These skills include listening, empathy, emotion management, and problem solving. In addition, we are providing mental health counseling for students who need extra support.”
Eligibility
Students must be enrolled at one of our participating school districts to access our ECHO program services.
Contact
If your rural public school district within Shelby, Miami, Darke, Preble, Mercer or Auglaize County (Ohio) would be interested in learning more about having our ECHO program in your schools, please contact CSSMV Northern Counties Assistant Director Erin Meyer at 937.498.4593 ext.1176.
Location
Our ECHO team is headquartered at our Northern Counties Office:
100 S. Main Avenue, Suite 101
Sidney, Ohio 45365
Pasos
/in Programs & Services, Top Level Program Category /by Hope GebhartPasos

Servicios Sociales Católicos ofrece servicios de apoyo a las familias e individuos Hispanos y de habla en Español en Dayton.
Estos servicios son gratuitos e incluyen:
- Acceso a alimentos a través de Choice Despensa de Alimentos
- Conexión a recursos en la comunidad
- Acceso a ayuda de salud mental, médica y dental
- Recursos para ropa y útiles escolares
- Apoyo para padres y educación durante el embarazo
- Información para acceder a clases de Inglés
Si desea obtener más información o hacer una cita, por favor llame a nuestra línea general: 937.296.1007
HORARIO SIN CITA PREVIA
Martes de 9:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. excepto en días festivos federales
1046 Brown Street, Dayton Ohio 45409
Regístrese en la entrada principal del edificio
Catholic Social Services offers support services to Dayton’s Hispanic and Spanish-speaking families and individuals.
These services are free and include:
- Food access through the Choice Food Pantry
- Connection to community resources
- Connection to mental health, medical and dental support
- Resources for clothing and school supplies
- Pregnancy and parenting support
- Information about English Language Learner classes
For more information or to make an appointment, please call our general line at 937.296.1007.
WALK-IN HOURS
Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. except on Federal Holidays
1046 Brown Street, Dayton Ohio 45409
Please check in at the main building entrance
Mobility Management
/in Transportation Resources /by Hope GebhartMobility Management
Mobility Management is an innovative approach for managing and delivering coordinated transportation services. Mobility managers focus on meeting individual customer needs through a wide range of transportation options and service providers. They work with local agencies, medical service providers, senior centers, and other service providers to educate and raise awareness about mobility management, transportation options and transportation needs within a community.
We provide mobility management services for Darke, Shelby, and Champaign Counties in Ohio.
Additional resources:

DRIVER TRAINING
If you’re interested in any of these trainings, please contact our Mobility Manager at (937) 575-7115.
DRIVE training is an 8-hour program for drivers who regularly transport passengers with unique needs related to aging or disability. DRIVE training fulfills the transportation quality assurance standards required for providers under the Older Americans Act Title III services in Ohio and Ohio’s PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver program.
NSC Defensive Driving Courses teach drivers how to recognize and react to immediate and potential hazardous driving situations and conditions. The instructor-led classroom courses provide collision prevention strategies and defensive driving techniques that focus on behavior, judgement, decision making, and consequences. This course will help influence drivers to make positive choices to improve driving behaviors and attitudes and encourage respectful and lawful decisions to avoid motor vehicle incidents and decrease traffic violations.
PAT Training is similar to DRIVE as it is an 8-hour training that includes video, handouts and hands-on training to address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and requirements, passenger sensitivity, lift operations, and wheelchair securement.
EVENTS
If you’re interested in any of these events, please contact our Mobility Manager at (937) 575-7115.
Catholic Social Services facilitates local HSTC Meetings in Champaign, Darke, and Shelby Counties to discuss unmet transportation needs and gaps in mobility and transportation. The quarterly meetings are open to the public.
- Champaign County – June 26, 2025 • 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Urbana Municipal Building at 205 South Main Street in Urbana; use the East Market Street entrance
- Darke County – June 25, 2025 • 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Greenville Transit System at 1425 Kitchen Aid Way in Greenville
- Shelby County – June 25, 2025 • 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Currently planned as a virtual meeting; call 937.575.7115 for access information
This program is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, to highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility. A proper fit in one’s personal vehicle can greatly increase not only the driver’s safety but also the safety of others.
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- Dates to be announced
Funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation
View our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley will make reasonable modifications to its policies and procedures upon request. To make a request, please call our Clients Rights Officer at 833.289.0227.
If you wish to file a complaint, our complaint form is available starting on page 15 of our ADA Plan. If you are not able to print and use this form, please contact our Clients Rights Officer at 833.289.0227.
View our Title VI Plan
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin in accordance with the Title VI Act of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Community Health Navigators
/in Pregnancy & Parenting Services /by Hope GebhartFamily Wellness Community Health Navigator Program
Helping our babies reach their first birthday
Our Community Health Navigators work with women who are pregnant or have a baby under the age of one. We also aim to reach and engage those individuals who are statistically the most at-risk for low birth weight and infant mortality. Did you know? What do the Community Health Navigators do?
The Family Wellness Community Health Navigator Program is made possible through a partnership with:


Why is low birth weight a concern? It increases the risk of health complications. The baby’s tiny body is not as strong, and he or she may have a harder time eating, gaining weight, and fighting infection.

INFANT MORTALITY is defined as the death of a live-born baby before his or her first birthday.

Quick facts about infant mortality:
- Low birth weight babies (less than 5.5 pounds) are at higher risk.
- Less stress during pregnancy reduces the chances of low birth weight and infant mortality.
- Early prenatal care helps prevent low birth weight and infant mortality.
- Breastfeeding in the first six months to one year gives babies an extra healthy start.
- The ABCs of safe sleep help keep babies safe in their first year…
- A – Place babies Alone
- B – on their Backs
- C – in their Cribs.
Eligibility
This program serves residents of Montgomery County.
Contact
For more information, call (937) 299-LINK.
Location
Our Community Health Navigators are primarily based at our Center for Families in Dayton, 1046 Brown Street.
Kinship & Adoption Navigators
/in Family Stabilization & Success, Pregnancy & Parenting Services /by Hope GebhartOhioKAN
Kinship & Adoption Navigator Program
The program is designed to assist those who have adopted children as well as those who are providing kinship care. The first step to access the program is to call 1-844-OHIO-KAN to connect with a navigator who will talk with you to understand your situation and needs. If you and the navigator decide together that we can help you navigate and access important resources, we’ll walk through the OhioKAN BASICS overview to make sure we completely understand your family situation and can start making a plan together. We’ll use the OhioKAN Information Hub to review more than 8,000 records to find, analyze, and organize all of the resources available to you based on your exact situation, location, and needs. Based on our conversation and resource review, we’ll create a Personalized Resource Plan. This document becomes the action plan for navigating and accessing all of the local and statewide resources that fit your situation. With the support of dedicated site navigators here at CSSMV, OhioKAN’s 100% free services will help kinship and adoptive families in Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby Counties navigate and connect with all of the resources available locally and statewide. For more information and helpful resources, as well as a directory of other regional partners serving other areas of Ohio, you can visit the OhioKAN website at https://ohiokan.jfs.ohio.gov. To connect with a navigator from ANYWHERE in Ohio, call 1-844-OHIO-KAN.
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley is thrilled to partner with OhioKAN, a new statewide flexible and responsive kinship and adoption navigator program designed to assist children, caregivers, and families.
The purpose of the Post Adoption Special Services Subsidy (PASSS) is to assist Ohio families after the finalization of their adoption. The subsidy is available to all adoptive families regardless of the type of adoption (international, attorney, public or private agency), with the exception of step-parent adoptions. The child DOES NOT have to meet either the federal or state definition of special needs to receive this subsidy. Each child may be eligible for up to $10,000 per year ($15,000 if residential treatment is recommended by a qualified professional).
PASSS funds may be used for reasonable costs of services to address the child’s physical condition, developmental disability, mental health, or emotional condition that either existed prior to the adoption or developed after the adoption and can be attributed to factors in the child’s preadoption background, medical history, or biological family’s background or medical history.
PASSS eligibility requirements:
- Child/young person resides in Ohio with the adoptive family
- Child/young person has been adopted by someone other than a step-parent
- Child/young person has a physical or developmental disability or mental or emotional condition that either existed before the adoption petition was filed or developed after the adoption petition was filed and can be directly attributed to factors in the child/young person’s pre-adoption background or medical history, or biological family’s background or medical history
- The child/young person is under the age of eighteen OR the child/young person is at least eighteen years of age and less than twenty-one years of age and has been diagnosed with a mental or physical disability
- Other sources of assistance are inadequate or are unavailable to meet the child/young person’s immediate needs
For more details about PASSS, click HERE.
Eligibility
While CSSMV’s Kinship Navigators serve the specific counties listed above, OhioKAN is a 100% free program available to all kinship and adoptive families in Ohio.
Contact
Call 1-844-OHIO-KAN (1-844-644-6526) to talk one-on-one with an OhioKAN Navigator. Phone lines are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location
CSSMV’s OhioKAN Navigators are based at our Eckerle Center in Dayton.
College Degree Support
/in Family Stabilization & Success /by Hope GebhartNext Steps
Reducing barriers between you and your college degree
Sometimes, the path to a college degree isn’t as simple as a line from A to Z. Challenges not related to academics can make it difficult to complete your education as quickly as you had planned, or even force you to drop out entirely. The Next Steps program works with students who are enrolled at Sinclair Community College and helps them reduce barriers to completing their education. Barriers may include things like housing instability, underemployment, lack of child care, healthcare concerns, and unexpected financial challenges. As a participant in Next Steps, you will have individualized, one-on-one meetings with a Success Navigator who will work with you and your Academic Coach to support your goal of completing your degree. Your Navigator will provide connections and referrals to resources that can help address your non-academic barriers. You’ll be able to apply for direct financial assistance grants to address emergency financial challenges that create barriers to your school attendance. And you will have peer support opportunities with other Next Steps program participants who have similar goals. *At this time, we have paused referrals to the Next Steps program as we work to restructure the program. Once enrollment resumes, we will update the website with the latest information and program updates.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this program you must be Pell Grant eligible, agree to work toward and maintain a 2.0 grade point average or better, agree to enroll in at least 6 credit hours for the term at Sinclair, and agree to have consistent engagement with a Success Navigator.
*At this time, we have paused referrals to the Next Steps program as we work to restructure the program. Once enrollment resumes, we will update the website with the latest information and program updates.
Contact
For more information about the program, please submit the form on this page or send an email to nextsteps @ cssmv.org.
Location
Program management is based at:
Eckerle Center
922 W. Riverview Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45402
RideConnect Volunteer Driver Program
/in Transportation Resources /by Hope GebhartRideConnect
Volunteer Driver Program
RideConnect is a volunteer driver program funded in part by the Ohio Department of Transportation to expand transportation options in Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Preble and Shelby Counties. We are also in the process of expanding the service into Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Clark Counties. One of the goals is to eliminate gaps in transportation that exist because of the lack of cross-county and region-to-region transport.
This volunteer driving program is focused on transporting individuals to medical and non-medical appointments and to employment. Priority is given to older adults and individuals with disabilities as well as low-income populations who do not have access to other options. The program allows access for individuals who need transportation outside of traditional transit hours and cannot afford the high cost of private providers. RideConnect program availability is dependent on volunteer availability.
from our volunteers
RideConnect volunteer drivers share their thoughts about the important service they provide:
My mother and brother lived in another city so my brother would take off from work to take her to all her medical appointments. Now that they have both passed, driving others through CSS RideConnect is my way to honor his generous care of my mom.
I get as much enjoyment and fulfillment out of driving our clients as they do by using the Catholic Social Services RideConnect program.
RideConnect fits into my lifestyle and my idea of paying it forward. By helping others I grow as an individual.
Everyone I come in contact with has something they want to share. Their family history, what they did for a living, their health concerns, and many other things. But mostly they just need someone to talk to. Being a good listener makes for a good driver. I really like what I do.
I enjoy meeting new people and helping to provide services to them.
Volunteer Drivers Needed
We are recruiting and training volunteer drivers who can then provide curb-to-curb transportation for passengers who need rides to medical and non-medical destinations. Drivers use their personal vehicles to transport within their county and adjoining counties. This opportunity is flexible, as volunteers have the ability to accept and decline requests based on their geographic area and time they are available. Drivers are expected to safely operate their vehicles according to State of Ohio driving laws and fill out reporting forms.
Drivers are thoroughly trained and vetted, including a required background check. They must hold valid Ohio driver’s licenses with no more than three points accrued, and must be able to read maps and follow directions.
Driver Training & Onboarding
Catholic Social Services covers all fees associated with required screenings and trainings
- SafeParish training – available online
- Catholic Social Services volunteer onboarding & RideConnect training
- Background check
- Drug & alcohol screen and non-DOT physical
- Defensive Driving Training – scheduled after volunteer starts
- Optional/not required: CPR & First Aid
Each driver accepted into the program is encouraged to volunteer for at least two round-trip assignments per month. Catholic Social Services provides mileage reimbursement to volunteer drivers for approved program trips.
Ready to make a difference? Complete our online volunteer application or call 1.833.238.0227 ext. 1195 for more information.
Eligibility
This volunteer driving program is focused on transporting individuals to medical and non-medical appointments and to employment. Priority is given to older adults and individuals with disabilities as well as low-income populations who do not have access to other options. RideConnect program availability is dependent on volunteer availability. Our primary service area is Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Preble, and Shelby Counties. We are also working to expand the service into Miami, Montgomery, Greene, and Clark Counties.
At this time, we are actively recruiting and training additional volunteer drivers. If you are interested in learning more about becoming one of our drivers, please contact Michelle Caserta-Bixler or Heather Robison at 937.575.7111 or 1.833.289.0227 ext.1195.
Contact
For more information about this program, please contact Michelle Caserta-Bixler or Heather Robison at 937.575.7111 or 1.833.289.0227 ext.1195.
Location
Our Mobility Management team is headquartered at our Northern Counties Office:
100 S. Main Avenue, Suite 101
Sidney, Ohio 45365
Services are funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
View our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley will make reasonable modifications to its policies and procedures upon request. To make a request, please call our Clients Rights Officer at 833.289.0227.
If you wish to file a complaint, our complaint form is available starting on page 15 of our ADA Plan. If you are not able to print and use this form, please contact our Clients Rights Officer at 833.289.0227.
View our Title VI Plan
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin in accordance with the Title VI Act of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Guardianship Services
/in Greene, Guardianship Services, Montgomery, Programs & Services, Senior Services, Top Level Program Category /by Hope GebhartGuardianship Services
Life Essentials Program
The Life Essentials guardianship program provides support for adults in Montgomery, Greene, Shelby and Miami Counties who have been deemed mentally incompetent and who do not have family willing or capable of making sound decisions for them.
Life Essentials staff and trained volunteers take on the critical role as guardian, working with their clients to ensure that each individual has the best possible life and lives in the least restrictive environment. Guardians become the advocate and voice for those who are unable to speak for themselves.
In addition to fulfilling the role of guardian, the Life Essentials guardianship program provides support to family members and/or friends who are willing and capable of becoming the guardian for a loved one.
Eligibility
Clients must have resided in Montgomery, Greene, Shelby or Miami County for at least six months, and must be deemed mentally incompetent by the Probate Court Judge or Magistrate.
Unfortunately, this program cannot serve those who have assets (home, car, bank account) and need a Guardian of Estate.
Contact
For more information, call 937.586.0545.
Location
922 W. Riverview Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Eckerle Administration Center
922 West Riverview Avenue
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 223-7217 or (800) 300-2937
General email: cssmv@cssmv.org












