Leadership Tioga: Human Services in Tioga County

Leadership Tioga met at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. on Sheldon Guile Boulevard in Owego to a bevy of speakers to learn about Human Services in Tioga County. Defined by the National Organization for Human Services, Human Services is meeting the needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service population. 

Maureen Abbott, executive director of Tioga Opportunities; Shawn Yetter, commissioner of Social Services; and Dan Brown, executive dIrector of Franziska Racker Centers presented the class with an overview of each of their individual organizations. They emphasized that each of these organizations work together to provide support for those in need throughout the county. 

Abbott said of Tioga Opportunities that it is a community action organization alive in the county for 50 years. They are broken down into five departments: aging services, community services, energy services, and family health services and housing services. Their mission statement brings together all that they do: Advance the self-sufficiency, well being and growth of individuals, families and communities through human services, education, advocacy and resources.

Yetter followed with an overview of the agencies found at Health and Human Services building on Route 38 in Owego. It is not just the Department of Social Services, which in and of itself supports families in need of assistance (financial or medical) but also provides mental health counseling, veterans’ assistance, employment services and child protective services.

To complete the morning’s session, Brown explained that the Franziska Racker Center’s goal is to create opportunities for individuals with special needs and their families. Working with school districts, family resource centers, BOCES and providing group housing, the center helps persons of all ages integrate into the community, connect with others and help them lead fulfilling lives.

After a question and answer session, the Leadership Tioga class left with their heads filled with facts, figures and plenty of information to help grow and lead this county in the future. 

If you would like more information on any of these organizations, visit tiogaopp.org, tiogacountyny.com/departments/socialservices/ and www.rackercenters.org.

For more information on Leadership Tioga, contact the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce at (607) 687-2020 or Lisa Grant, faciliator, at lmgrant2368@gmail.com. 

Registration for next year’s class will begin in the fall.