TRUMBULL UNITED WAY CSA offers a variety of services

The newly merged agency is just one of more than 25 relying on funding from United Way of Trumbull County.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- Although, technically, Community Solutions Association is only 2 years old, it has a long history in Trumbull County.
"We are a social service agency composed of agencies that have serviced this community, historically, for a long time," said Kenneth Lloyd, president and CEO.
Formed by the 2000 merger of 2 North Park and Family Services Association, CSA is almost a one-stop shop for services and referrals. In July CSA merged again, this time with Community Connections, a referral and hot-line service that operated in the county for more than 30 years.
CSA is one of many agencies supported through funding from the United Way of Trumbull County. Roughly 6 percent of its budget comes from United Way funds, which are collected throughout the year from employee and personal contributions.
CSA's allocation last year was $185,000, down from $221,000 the year before, Lloyd said.
The drop in funding, felt by all local agencies, was because of fewer local contributions after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A shrinking local work force also contributed to the decline, Lloyd said.
Programs available
Programs offered under CSA's umbrella focus on intervention and prevention in drug and alcohol addiction, mental health treatment, drug court, individual and group counseling and more.
"We work toward finding separate entities that complement what we offer and bring them together in the most cost-effective way without duplication of services," Lloyd said.
CSA tries to provide a variety of services to as many people as possible, almost a "womb to tomb" philosophy, Lloyd said. The agency takes a proactive stance as well, he said, taking services to the people instead of waiting for clients to walk through the doors.
An example is CSA's liaisons in each of Warren's school buildings. The program, which has won awards at the state level and serves as a model for similar programs, has school employees looking for at-risk pupils and their families to get them help.
In court system
Liaisons are also present in the county's court system, offering intervention and counseling for everything from drug and alcohol abuse to domestic violence.
"We are the primary provider of services in the Trumbull County Drug Court, and it's been a tremendous success," Lloyd said.
CSA also offers programs to help women hone their life skills to return to or enter the work force, an annual day camp for the deaf community, and parenting programs for those with children 2 to 18, and more.
Employees also refer clients to other agencies providing the most appropriate services when CSA cannot, Lloyd said.
"We are one of the most collaborative entities that exist," he said. "We may not have all the solutions for everyone, but we work to have an impact."
slshaulis@vindy.com