WARREN Is one-stop center next for county?

Plans for such a center for government agencies were dropped two years ago.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are being asked to consider leasing the Gibson Building on East Market Street to house a "one-stop" social services center, with offices for Jobs and Family Services and other social service agencies.
The building's primary tenant is the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which has announced it will be pulling out next year. The lease for Jobs and Family Services offices on South Park expires in 2005.
"This is our chance," said Patti Augustine, head of a committee coordinating the county's attempt to get various agencies that aid the poor and unemployed under one roof. Augustine and other members of the committee plan to make a presentation to county commissioners Tuesday.
For years, the state has been pressuring local officials to consolidate offices for different social service agencies in one place, to better serve the public.
Ideally, private agencies, recruiters and employment agencies could share the same space, to make it that much easier for the unemployed to find work.
"It needs to be done," said JFS director Tom Mahoney. "We have agencies that need to provide mutual services to mutual people."
Other possible tenants
Likely co-tenants include Ohio Bureau of Employment Service and Bureau of Rehabilitative Services, he said. More will probably come forward when they actually have a location to talk about, he said.
Each agency would pay for its portion of a lease.
Two years ago, a Warren architectural firm conducted a study of three locations being considered for a one-stop center, concluding that the Ridgeview Plaza on U.S. Route 422 was best.
However, commissioners rejected that choice because it would take about 200 jobs out of downtown Warren and no action has been taken.
Up until now, Trumbull County has been able to meet the one-stop requirements by installing a computer system at the JFS office that's networked to other agencies.
However, the if Trumbull County intends to continue providing services locally -- rather than in a consortium with Mahoning and Ashtabula counties -- it will be required to actually have a physical one-stop center, Mahoney said.
The state may provide up to a $500,000, one-time award when a one-stop center is built, he said.
siff@vindy.com