Community Services

City of Westlake
27700 Hilliard Blvd.
Westlake, OH 44145
440.871.3300
M – F: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Community Services

Community Services Department 29694 Center Ridge Road Westlake, OH 44145-5117 Directions Phone: 440.899.3544 Fax: 440.899.3548 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Community Services Department offers programs and activities to enrich the lives of the fifty-plus population at Westlake Center and provides a system of social services for Westlake residents of all ages. A variety of social, educational and recreational activities are offered as well as health screenings. The social service staff of the department serves as a resource for referrals, information, emergency food for qualified Westlake residents, discount program applications, and offers a daily safety phone check and transportation for older and disabled adults. Top
Community Services Staff
Director Lydia Gadd 440.899.3544 Activity Planner Jennifer Yoo 440.899.3544 Outreach Coordinator Donna Feorene 440.899.3544 Youth Coordinator Madeline Crandall 440.899.3544 Top	Office Manager Cindi Lindgren 440.899.3544 Activity Planner Jodi Rodriguez 440.899.3544 Coordinator of Volunteer Services Susan Laschinger 440.899.3544 Administrative Assistant Michele Hassen 440.899.3544
Community Garden - Accepting Applications for 2016
The Community Garden is a partnership between St. John Medical Center and the City of Westlake. Madeline Crandall is the garden manager for the collaborative community garden. She will answer residents' questions, take reservations for garden plots, and provide details about the fee. To learn more, please send your name and contact information by to Madeline Crandall. Top
Youth Services
The Youth Coordinator serves as the liaison to the Westlake Police Department's Community Diversion Program. This program provides services for those juveniles who have been identified as first time offenders. Services that may be provided include assessments, counseling, coordination of community service and other sanctions, referrals and follow up activities. The Youth Coordinator also serves as the city representative for coordination of youth services and programs with Westlake schools, Westlake Recreation, social service agencies, and the Westlake Police Department (including the School Resource Officer(s), DARE officer, and Juvenile officers). Top
Social Services
The Outreach Coordinator offers an array of services and referrals to all residents of the community, In addition, no matter what type of difficulty they are experiencing Gil social services inquiries are completely confidential. Various types of assistance are available to older adults and low-income residents who meet program qualifications. Our food pantry provides a transudation services for Westlake resides 60 and older, a food pantry for those who qualify, prescription drug program, three-day supply of non-perishable food, holiday baskets at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and referral for other types of assistance. Top
Referrals and Applications
Referrals include such things as home health care, adult day care, senior housing, Meals on Wheels, alternative transportation, employment options, Ohio Benefit Bank, and geriatric assessments. We have consultations available for legal and Medicare assistance. Applications and information are available for Community Response Transit and St. John West Shore Hospital Senior Supper Club, as well as for the following programs: Absentee ballots HEAP/PIPP. Home Weatherization Assistance Homestead Exemption Westlake City Schools Gold Card Veteran’s Benefits Transportation Top
Wellness Programs
Wellness Programs include health and housing fairs, health programs, health screenings (blood pressure, blood sugar, osteoporosis, cholesterol), annual flu immunizations, exercise classes, Yoga and Arthritis Foundation Exercise/Tai Chi programs. Support groups meeting regularly at Westlake Center include Stroke and Parkinsons, Grief, Memory Club, and Diabetes. Are You O.K? ®, a no-cost computerized calling system that makes daily calls to older or impaired residents, is also available to qualified residents. All social services inquiries are confidential. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program: Developed at Stanford University Patient Research Center, this six week workshop guides people with chronic conditions as well as helps them to deal with the impact that these diseases may have on their lives and emotions. A five year research project found that people who took the program when compared with those that did not, improved their healthful behaviors, improved their health status, and decreased their days in the hospital. Top
Transportation Policy
Westlake's unassisted transportation service is available to older or disabled adult residents who have no alternate means of transportation. Destinations include medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, beauty salons, barber shops, area malls, Westlake Porter Public Library, and Westlake Center. Physical therapy, radiation or chemotherapy, dialysis, and nursing home visits are also included. Wheelchair transportation is available. Click here to view Westlake Center's Transportation 2015 Policy and Procedures booklet. Top
Fifty Plus Programs & Activities
Fifty Plus programs and activities are designed for a wide range of participants with a variety of interests and needs and may include the following:
AARP Driver Safety AARP Income Tax Prep A Healthy You Workshop Art Appreciation Arthritis / Tai Chi Asian Exercise Bingo for Fun Board Games Bocce Book Discussion Book Review Bridge Chair Massage Chess Diabetes Self Management Workshop Exercise Class Health Screenings History Holiday & Theme Parties Informational Programs Legal Help Lunch and Learn Luncheons with Programs Meet & Eat Men's Morning Movies Music Appreciation Musical Bingo Pinochle Poker Reserve Cards Sing-along & Lunch Walkers Watercolor class Westlake Walkers Wii Bowling Yoga Top	Download the latest Fifty Plus Newsletter
Monthly Calendar
A monthly schedule of activities is organized by the Community Services Department in a condensed calendar format. March 2016 Calendar - click here February 2016 Calendar - click here Top
Hyways & Byways Travel Brochure
Hyways & Byways is published annually and includes information about upcoming trips offered through Westlake Center. Trips include mini trips (limited to 9 people), day trips, multi-day trips, and international travel. Trips are open to adults 18 and over. To view The 2015 edition of Hyways and Byways click here. Top
Volunteer and Service Opportunities
With so many exciting activities happening at the center and assisting the many residents of our community, Westlake Community Services is in need of volunteers. You can make a difference! Interested in helping with mailings, events, craft projects, or assisting in the food pantry? Call us for more information about how you can help. To download the Community Services Volunteer Application click here. There are other opportunities in the City of Westlake to invest your time and talents with many local non-profit organizations which provide valuable service to people in need. An extensive list of area organizations, always open to volunteers, is maintained by Westlake Porter Library. To access a copy of that list click here.
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Donations
Programs and Services The Community Service Department greatly appreciates donations and sponsorships the help to support activities, programs, and client service for older adults. The food bank relies on donations form the community and local businesses to provide food to qualified residents. A list of non-perishable for items needed may be accessed by clicking here. Top
The Gift that Gives
To make a gift to the Community Services Department in celebration of a loved one's birthday, anniversary, or other special event, in sympathy, or in memorial of a loved one, a form is available. Click here to access this form. Top
Online Resources
AARP Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Cuyahoga County Dept. of Senior and Adult Services Chronic Disease Dept. of Veteran Affairs FIRSTGOV for seniors Home Energy Assistance Program Medicare Coverage Ohio Benefit Bank Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program Social Security Administration Ohio Department of Aging Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Top
Recognition and Awards Community Services Named as a Program of Excellence for 2015 The Westlake Center for Community Services was recognized on February 11, 2016 by the National Council on Aging’s National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) as one of its 2015 Programs of Excellence for its highly successful Sponsorship Breakfast Program. The annual recognition honors outstanding efforts made by senior centers across the nation to offer innovative, creative, and replicable programs for older adults. Read press release Top

The City of Westlake Ohio

Community Services