Overview
The Wood County Educational Service Center (WCESC) provides comprehensive educational, prevention, and family support services designed to strengthen the wellbeing, safety, and academic success of students across Wood and Lucas counties. Through its Community Learning Centers (CLC), the WCESC offers high-quality before- and after-school programs for elementary students (K–6), including extended learning opportunities, enrichment activities, and access to a variety of academic and social-emotional development services. The ESC is distinguished by its holistic, relationship-centered approach; its commitment to accessibility through sliding-fee options; and its leadership in school safety initiatives such as the Safer Ohio School Tip Line. In addition to academic and youth programming, the WCESC Prevention Education Department delivers a full continuum of evidence-based and data-informed prevention services to districts countywide grades K-12. These include substance-use prevention, mental-health promotion, credit recovery support, professional learning for educators, trainings such as Handle with Care and administrative support programs, and implementation of findings from the ADAMHS-funded Wood County Youth Survey, a national model of long-standing youth behavioral trend data collection. These efforts allow our team to deliver targeted programming that aligns with local trends, strengthens protective factors, and builds resilient school communities. The WCESC also coordinates Diversion Support Services in partnership with the Wood County Juvenile Court, local law enforcement, and community agencies. These supports assist youth and families in navigating early-intervention pathways that reduce recidivism, connect families to needed resources, and promote a positive school experience. Services include intake, case management, referral coordination, data collection and reporting, restorative practices, and ongoing communication with court personnel to ensure timely and supportive intervention. Family support remains a core component of WCESC’s mission. The agency facilitates community-based groups such as The Parent Project®, which equips caregivers with tools for navigating challenging adolescent behaviors, and Grandparent & Kinship Support Groups, which foster connection, education, and emotional support for adults raising children outside of traditional parent-child arrangements. These programs reinforce the belief that strong families—whatever their structure, build strong communities. Together, these integrated services reflect WCESC’s unwavering commitment to academic success, student wellness, and community partnership. Through collaborative, data-driven, and relationship-centered approaches, the ESC continues to meet emerging needs while building pathways that help every child and family in Wood County thrive.
Locations
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