No Wrong Door helps agencies better serve Allen County

Yahoo

29-01-2025

Jan. 29—LIMA — More than 10 local organizations came together at Allen County's first No Wrong Door event to collaborate, network and work together to better serve the community.
The event aims to familiarize organizations with each other and their functions, while also fostering an understanding that these services often serve the same individuals.
"We have a lot of people in our community that need services, and they can come into one door and maybe it's not the right door," said Stefanie Motter, director of the aging and disability services at the Area Agency on Aging 3 in Lima. "The purpose of No Wrong Door is to communicate and network and work together so that we can better serve those individuals."
Labeled as the "No Wrong Door expert" by Beca Sheidler, vice president of aging in place at Area Agency on Aging 3, Amber Wolfrom, adult prevention specialist with the Family Resource Center in Hancock County, resonated with and reminded attendees of their impacts on the community.
She explained that if a community member is calling, it's likely because they are in a crisis.
"Community members may not know where to turn," Wolfrom said.
Remaining calm, engaging, direct, and assisting is important when speaking with someone in a difficult situation. Asking for the caller's location, age and whether or not they are a veteran are also significant tasks to do first to know exactly where to lead the caller.
"To truly be No Wrong Door, you have to know your neighbor," Wolfrom said.
Wolfrom frequently mentioned prioritizing the state of emotion of the caller.
"You don't know how many doors have been closed in their face before they got to ours," she said. "The reaction we are getting is a symptom of what they're experiencing."
Wolfrom has more than 25 years of experience providing and monitoring substance use prevention and mental health promotion efforts.
Organizations including Allen County Job & Family Services, Allen County Family and Children First, Help Me Grow Home Visiting, Allen County Board of Developmental Disability and the West Ohio Community Action Partnership highlighted their roles and responsibilities during the event.
Discussions regarding implementing the event in Allen County have been ongoing for several years, with some inspiration from a similar event in Hancock County.
"This has been a dream and a vision and a conversation and a discussion for many years," Sheidler said.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
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