MIKE KEZDI/SUN NEWSThese department heads, from left, Ted Lux of Brecksville, Amy Washabaugh of Broadview Heights, Kathleen Kapusta of Independence and Christopher Matthews of Seven Hills have spent the past three years forging a strong bond that increases services to residents in need. Tweet 1 Comments Regionalism can take on many forms. Municipalities may choose to share employees, equipment, services or other tangible and intangible goods. And with the economy being the way it is, many communities are doing just that.

In the past three years, Broadview Heights, Independence, Brecksville and Seven Hills have worked more closely in the area of human services. This catch-all department usually includes services to senior citizens in those communities as well as others in need.

Three years ago, the bond between the “BIBS” group — as the respective human services directors refer to themselves — grew when discussing grants available to the departments.

“They aren’t really available if you aren’t collaborating with other communities,” said Amy Washabaugh, director of human services for Broadview Heights.

Since that discussion three years ago, the four communities have met monthly for what is just a general discussion session.

“When we get together, there is no agenda,” said Ted Lux, director of human services for Brecksville. “We start talking and things pop into our minds. . . the shared best practices are invaluable.”

As the conversation evolves, the realization that the four communities are quite similar begins to emerge, according to Kathleen Kapusta, director of senior services for Independence. “We focus in more on things that are relevant to our communities,” she said.

Christopher Matthews, senior citizen coordinator for Seven Hills, says that by teaming with the others, the programs he can offer his residents are greatly improved. “It makes more sense to involve these communities,” he said.

This sharing of ideas has led to the communities to fall on the department heads for their various areas of expertise. Kapusta, Matthews and Washabaugh are all Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program-certified, Kapusta is a licensed independent social worker with expertise in Medicare and Medicaid, Washabaugh has experience in dealing with many county programs such as the Home Energy Assistance Program and Lux has a profuse amount of knowledge about gas and electric rates.

By sharing this knowledge, the communities are able to “avert our seniors for having to seek these services at the state and county level,” Kapusta said.

“We’re like an extended family,” Washabaugh said.

Of course, the last three years of working together is partially based in three other programs that the communities are involved. They make up the South Hills Service Unit of the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland and each year in November through the beginning of December, the quartet work on the Yuletide Hunger and Adopt A Family programs.

Yuletide Hunger — which was created in 1983 by Brecksville resident David Mansbery as a way to remember his brother — helps feed needy families for approximately 30 days. Last year, 135 families were assisted by Yuletide Hunger, 70 of which also took part in the Adopt A Family program.

“This really isn’t a one-time-a-year program,” Washabaugh said, acknowledging that the four communities all have monthly food pantries as well. To that end, the four directors all agree that their regular monthly food pantries have experienced an increase in need since the economy took a nose dive.

“It’s by far, the biggest thing any of us do,” Lux said.

To donate food or other household goods to Yuletide Hunger, drop-off points are set up at the Seven Hills Recreation Center, the Independence Civic Center, Brecksville Human Services Center and the Broadview Heights Community Building.

The directors expect this year’s Yuletide campaign will have more requests than 2009. Those who need the assistance of Yuletide have until Dec. 3 to request food. Call (440) 526-2499 in Brecksville, (440) 526-4685 in Broadview Heights, (216) 525-6230 in Seven Hills and (216) 524-3035 in Independence.

Similar Posts:

• North Royalton basketball on six-game winning streak; downs Valley Forge and Brecksville-Broadview Heights
• Occidental Professor Advocates for Improved L.A. Food System in New Report
• Food Justice Experts to Speak of Social Movement for More Locally Grown, Fresh Food
• Gaels take Trojan Cup
• Broward Tech Centers debut green energy lab, programs