Here's what we found for you
- Basic needs: youth & teens
For adolescents in Stark County, growing up can be a challenge – especially when money is tight and support is not available at home. When youth and teens are struggling to meet their most basic needs, there are many local organizations they can turn to for help. Discover ways to access food, clothing and shelter for adolescents across Stark.
- Basic Needs Information & Referrals
Looking for help, but not sure where to turn? At Stark Help Central, we have a vision for the future of Stark County where every child, parent, friend and neighbor has the resources to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Find local organizations dedicated to lifting up local families in times of need.
- Family & community-based treatment
Whether you are a young person looking for help or someone who is concerned about a young person, there are local organizations that can provide assistance for mental health and substance use. Taking support beyond a traditional office setting can be beneficial for some people.
Community-based treatment allows families to access high-quality services for mental health and substance use with few barriers. Family-based treatment allows those seeking help to get treatment safely in their community alongside their families.
- Parenting help
From education and income to physical and emotional health, learn about programs and organizations dedicated to supporting parents in Stark County as they navigate parenthood. Because a strong family foundation can help children succeed at home, in the classroom and in their relationships with others.
- Substance use treatment centersThere are many quality, supportive treatment centers in Stark County for people who are struggling or have struggled with substance use. Whether you are in need of detox services, clinical care or community-based treatment, help is available. Find local treatment and recovery centers near you, as well as helpful resources to support you through the process.
- Stark County THRIVE Pathways HUB
Stark County THRIVE Pathways Hub is an initiative coordinated through the Canton City Health Department to help prevent infant mortality and reduce disparities in birth outcomes. The program brings together community providers, medical resources and social services to help ensure all Stark County babies celebrate their first birthdays.
This data-driven, county-wide system provides care coordination services through the support of community health workers (CHWs). CHWs are certified through the Ohio Board of Nursing and employed by medical clinics,
- Teen pregnancy
If you are experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, you are not alone. Being a pregnant teen can be overwhelming and confusing, but community resources in Stark County are available to help you along the way. Find support groups, health care providers and confidential spaces to talk about your pregnancy options.
- Major Unusual Incidents (MUIs)
A Major Unusual Incident (MUI) is an event that negatively impacts the health, safety or wellbeing of an individual with developmental disabilities. These incidences must be reported immediately, either by staff, families, the general public or the individual themselves. Learn how to best report an MUI with help from local Stark County agencies.
- About usOur impact Guiding Stark County toward health and hope
With partner agencies serving thousands of individuals each year, StarkHelpCentral.com has ambitious plans for addressing some of our area’s greatest challenges. We are launching new prevention efforts, amplifying awareness and mobilizing resources to achieve real, lasting results.
- Warning signs of addictionDrug addiction is a physical and psychological dependence on a harmful substance. If someone is constantly seeking out alcohol and drugs, even after they have caused health, work and/or relationship problems, they are likely struggling with addiction. If and when the signs of substance use become frequent and severe, it is important to reach out for help immediately.
- Developmental disabilities: young adults
The journey to adulthood can be challenging for anyone, and especially for young people with developmental disabilities. From securing employment and managing health care responsibilities to finding accessible housing and transportation, there is a lot to learn to ensure a smooth transition. To plan for success in the adult world, community resources are available. Learn about the advocates and supporters helping to empower young adults with disabilities in Stark County, Ohio.
- Managed care plansAfter Medicaid approval, you’ll need to pick a managed care plan to receive your health care, which includes medically necessary services and more.
- Adult literacyAdult literacy programs are designed to address several important learning areas, including writing, reading, basic math and cultural competency. These programs not only help to support individual success. When more adults in Stark County are literate, the community sees reductions in crime and substance use as well as improved public health and employment rates.
- Asking for helpIt is important for young people to understand their strengths and weaknesses, so they can identify when they need support. If a student struggles to read in class, they may want to ask for their tests to be read out loud. Many educational and social services are available in our local schools, but to be effective, kids need to raise their voices and ask for help.
- Infant mortality prevention
To help address the growing issue of infant mortality in Stark County, local agencies have come together to form the Stark County THRIVE Pathways HUB. This county-wide initiative brings together community providers, medical resources and social services to help ensure every baby in Stark County is able to celebrate their first birthday. New and expecting parents can reach out today for help improving the health and stability of their growing families.
- Gangs & violence: youth & teens
Gang violence affects many communities – including Stark County – creating a climate of fear and increased criminal behavior. In fact, youth violence is one of the leading causes of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing it is a vital part of promoting the health and safety of our youth and overall community. Learn about the resources available to help keep gang violence out of our local schools and neighborhoods.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response & Resources
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. For information about COVID-19, read the CDC’s list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline to ask an expert: 1-833-427-5634, open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
COVID test ordering: COVIDTests.gov or 1-800-232-0233 or TTY 1-888-720-7489 to request up to four free tests per household.
- Drug & alcohol rehabilitation servicesAddiction is a complex disease, not a character flaw. If someone you know is struggling, learn about Stark County rehabilitation services.
- Opiate Resources
In recent years, heroin use has been on the rise across the nation, throughout Ohio and in Stark County. According to Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR), 1,444 members of our community were treated for opiate use in 2016 – nearly six times the number treated 10 years earlier. Find resources and programs to help raise awareness, educate the community and combat this growing epidemic.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, - Shawna’s Story of MotherhoodWhen Shawna and her husband found out she was pregnant, they didn’t know where to start. Yet everything changed when she met a THRIVE health worker.
- Emotional support for children in foster care
Children in the Stark County foster care system have often experienced trauma, neglect or abuse sometime in their young lives. By supporting the unique needs of this vulnerable population, educators, foster families and social workers can help offset the effects of these negative experiences.
Professional mental health providers in our community offer many different treatment options, so no matter a child’s situation or individual emotional needs, help is available. Find family, individual and faith-based resources to help improve the resiliency and well-being of children in foster care.
- The Stark County Legal SystemFind the right court or local government program for your specific legal needs. Learn about the Stark County legal system.
- Relationship issues
While there’s no single reason for teen suicide, the emotional pain associated with a breakup can be so severe that young people turn to self-harm. And these issues aren’t exclusive to romantic relationships. Problems with parents and friends can cause just as much stress and pain for a young person.
If you or someone you know is struggling to cope with a difficult relationship, find local counseling and support resources. You are not alone.
- Migrant working: childhoodChildren who have migrated are often forced to work in unsafe, unsanitary environments and face abuses that go largely unreported. Learn more.
- School Safety
Stark County’s goal is always to keep all students safe – physically, socially and emotionally. Inside and outside of the classroom, many resources are in place to support our local students. From guidance counselors and mental health specialists to school resource officers and ongoing building improvements, Stark County has taken many steps to improve the safety at our local schools.
If you or someone you know has a concern about your safety while in school,
- Hard times: early childhood
Young children need proper nutrition and medical care in order to grow, develop and thrive. When a household is in financial crisis, it can have serious, long-term health, social and behavioral implications throughout their lives. Fortunately, families in Stark County are not alone in facing these challenges. There are local agencies dedicated to providing food, clothing, shelter and cash assistance to those who are experiencing hard times.
Even parents who are employed with steady incomes may struggle to make ends meet when they have child.
- CARE Teams
School can present many challenges for students. Whether they are struggling in class, experiencing issues in the home or having a hard time socially, CARE Teams are available to help. Each CARE team is different, but they are typically made up of school guidance counselors, administrators, teachers, clinical staff, family support specialists and mental health professionals. With different skills and backgrounds at the table, each member of the CARE Team contributes a unique perspective to address student issues with wraparound resources.
- Stark County CARE Teams cover basic needs so students can focus on academicsTogether, these professionals brainstorm ideas for ways to support children so they can do their best while they’re at school.
- Self-advocacy references & resourcesBeyond everyday interactions with family and friends, young people are able to self-advocate and use their personal experiences as a springboard for change. For young people who are passionate about raising their voices and telling their stories, they may need help determining the best place to start.
- Importance of Safe Places and Caring Relationships for Our LGBTQ+ Young People
In honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, let us take a moment to learn more about what we can do in our personal and professional lives to create safe spaces and caring relationships for our LGBTQ youth (and adults).
Far too many LGBTQ+ youth do not feel safe and accepted or feel a sense of pride in themselves. In fact, LGBTQ+ youth experience bullying, parental rejection, depression, and thoughts of suicide at significantly higher rates then their heterosexual peers.
- Overdose prevention & treatment
Opioid use is a growing concern in Stark County. For the past several years, opioid overdose has been the leading cause of injury-related death in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Health, 37 percent of unintentional overdose deaths are caused by prescription painkillers.
Opiates and opioids are similar, highly addictive drugs. Opiates, including heroin, morphine and codeine are made from the opium poppy plant. Opioids is a broader term that includes opiates and synthetic opioids such as prescription painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone,
- Becoming resilient is a daily practiceResiliency daily practices and tips to help you build a strong foundation of character. Face life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
- March 1st is Self Injury Awareness Day
The UK organization LifeSIGNS started dedicating March 1st as Self Injury Awareness Day in 2002. Now, 20 years later, it is a national awareness day for many countries, including the U.S. Self-injury goes by other names, including self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and encompasses a large range of actions that one takes to cope with extreme emotion, release tension from these emotions, or take back a perceived loss of control. While teens tend to be the most likely to self-injure,
- Your Guide to Pride: 2022 Ohio Pride Events
Happy Pride Month, Ohioans! Nowadays, Pride celebrations extend beyond the month of June and into the summer, so everyone has a chance to celebrate. If you’re looking for Pride events near you throughout Ohio, you’ve come to the right place.
No matter how you identify or if you’re an ally, there’s a Pride parade, festival or celebration near you. Be sure to catch a live performance, support local vendors who attend, volunteer for a committee,
- Removing Barriers to Owning a Small Business
StarkFresh serves the people of Stark County through a variety of ways, all in the name of their mission: “Tackling the causes of hunger by creating realistic pathways out of poverty.” Many in the county know StarkFresh for its grocery store located in downtown Canton on Cherry Ave. NE or its mobile grocery market that travels throughout the area; though the programs offered through StarkFresh go past the scope of bringing food to people in need.
- The Importance of Getting an Opioid Overdose Kit
As the opioid crisis in Northeast Ohio continued to grow, the Stark County Opiate & Addiction Task Force was created in 2011 to help educate the community and provide necessary resources on opioids. In 2014, Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) was created by the Ohio Health Department to bring together educational and naloxone distribution programs during the opioid epidemic. In order to prevent opioid overdose and to further harm reduction strategies, these organizations provide free overdose kits for anyone in Ohio who wants one.
- Stark County Educational Service Center Provides Schools with Helpful ResourcesThe Stark County Educational Service Center provides schools with helpful resources that support student educational, health and emotional needs.
COMPASS Rape Crisis
24/7 Confidential Hotline: 330-452-1111
Mental health, counseling, and case management services for all survivors of rape and sexual assault
Confidential Hotline
Hospital Advocacy
Justice System Advocacy
Canton, OH 44707
Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities
MUI Hotline: 330-477-4477 – If you believe a person with disabilities is at reasonable risk for harm
Funds and services to support the health, safety and education of people with developmental disabilities including:
Transportation
Self Advocacy
Respite Care
Canton, OH 44708 Learn more
Great Lakes Science Center Summer Day Camps
Great Lakes Science Center is offering both at-home and at Great Lakes Science Center camp experiences to best fit your family’s needs. Both options have been designed with your child’s health and safety in mind.
Learn more
Cleveland, OH 44114
Massillon City Schools Career Technical Education
Helping students to develop professional skills and experience to prepare them for future employment:
- Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
- Skills USA
- Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- Educators Rising
- Junior Achievement
Massillon, OH 44646
GlenOak High School
Career programs offered through the Stark Career Compact:
- Advancement to nursing
- Animation and graphic design
- Automotive technology
- Commercial photography
- Construction trades
- Cosmetology
- Emergency fire services
- Engineering technologies
- Entertainment technologies
- Health technologies
- High school of business
- Horticulture
- Job training and coordination
- Music production
- Teacher pathways
- Video production
Canton, OH 44721
Stark County Homeless Hotline
24/7 Hotline: 330-452-4363
For referrals to free community shelters and other local housing programs.
Please allow enough phone time for specialists to conduct an initial assessment review to find information and programs that work best for your needs.
The homeless hotline number is a part of Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery.
Interim HealthCare – North Canton
Interim HealthCare provides in-home services for those recovering from a hospital stay or for those who need support with daily tasks.
North Canton, OH 44720
Canton For All People
Canton for All People is a Community Development Corporation formed by Crossroads United Methodist Church in in partnership with the Lemmon and DeHoff family foundations to bring quality housing and opportunities for all people to downtown Canton. Canton for All People was formed to help the church address two of its primary focus areas (1) Overcoming Poverty Together (2) Seeking Health and Wholeness for All.
- Shorb Home Repair (assist homeowners with exterior repairs)
- Affordable Housing &
Canton, OH 44702
ASCEND
Formerly Foundations
Promoting recovery through peer support, education, advocacy and networking.
Peer ran Respite Unit is based on short-term, in-house stay for those struggling with mental health and addiction recovery issues.
Free(no insurance necessary or accepted)
Also offers classes in person or via zoom with a possible $45.00 Walmart card stipend for attending 20 classes.
Additional locations:
227 Third St. SE,
Suite 200
Canton, OH 44702
YWCA Alliance
We improve Alliance area women’s lives, stand up for justice, and strengthen communities with a focus on three impact areas: equipping youth, economic stability and advancement and senior nutrition and health
Provides transitional housing for women, a clothing boutique, employment and transportation assistance, youth programs, and Meals on Wheels for the senior community
Alliance, OH 44601
YWCA Canton
Provides emergency shelter to the homeless and tools to help them get back on their feet and become self-sufficient
Also provides early care and education services to children that enhance their development and prepare them to be successful as they transition to kindergarten
To be placed in housing you must first register with the homeless hotline by calling 330-452-4363
Canton, OH 44702
Healthy Start
Medicaid-funded program providing basic medical coverage for pregnant women and children up to 19 years old:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital care
- Vision services
- Prescriptions and more
Canton, OH 44702
Ayden Healthcare
5005 Higbee Ave. NWCanton, OH 44718
Maxim Healthcare Canton
4100 Holiday Ave. NWCanton, OH 44718
The Pines Healthcare Center
This skilled nursing facility offers short-term rehabilitation, subacute, long-term care, and programming for seniors.
Canton, OH 44708 Learn more
United Healthcare Community
One of the largest providers of Medicaid coverage in the United States. Visit their website for more information.
Heartland Behavioral Healthcare
Patient and family outreach for those affected by mental illness.
Help Me Grow-Home Visiting
Home Visiting is a voluntary, home-based program offered at no cost to your family. Our home visitors are well-trained professionals who use a compassionate approach that offers information and support during pregnancy, and empowers you as the parent with skills, tools, and confidence to nurture the healthy growth of your child through the earliest years – a critical time of development.
WHO SHOULD BE REFERRED?Pregnant women and families with young children.Supporting first-time parents with home visiting services for children up to 3 years old
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?North Canton, OH 44720