The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services awarded Catholic Social Services (CSS) a $200,000 grant to support families with young children in Franklin and Licking counties through its Little Blessings program.
This award is part of the Governor’s Executive Order focused on strengthening families by helping children remain safely in their own homes or the homes of relatives, promoting job preparation and work, encouraging the formation and stability of two-parent families, and reducing dependency on government assistance.
The funding will support CSS Little Blessings program, which addresses the nutrition, health, parenting and overall wellbeing of families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines with children ages 0–5.
In Franklin County, Little Blessings operates at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, an outreach center serving under-resourced families on the west side of Columbus.
The Center now serves more than 6,000 individuals annually in partnership with organizations such as the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Legal Aid Society of Columbus, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center, the City of Columbus and Mount Carmel Health System. Partners help families navigate to a future of stability and self-sufficiency.
In Licking County, CSS currently provides transportation, senior services and representative payee services to individuals and families in partnership with the Licking County Food Pantry Network, United Way, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and the Veterans Administration, making it an ideal location for expanded family-focused services supported by the grant.
“This funding allows us to strengthen families at a critical stage of life,” said Kelley Henderson, president and CEO of CSS. “By supporting parents with young children through nutrition, health and parenting resources, we are helping families build stability and independence while ensuring children can thrive in safe, supportive homes.”
About Catholic Social Services
Since 1945, Catholic Social Services (CSS) has been a source of compassion, dignity, and hope for those Christ calls us to serve throughout our community. Serving almost 12,000 individuals annually, our mission is supported by dedicated volunteers who help seniors find connection, guide families towards a brighter future, and assist persons with disabilities find new freedom. Rooted in the belief that every person reflects the image of God, we journey together as neighbors, empowering individuals to shape their own futures with our unwavering support.