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Friendship Circle of Cleveland asks Ohio Senate for $300,000 annual appropriation to expand services for children with disabilities
Summary
Friendship Circle leaders and volunteers told the Senate Medicaid Committee that state funding helped expand programs and volunteer opportunities; they requested a $300,000 annual appropriation to expand services, sustain staff and reach more families across northern Ohio.
Leaders, volunteers and parents from Friendship Circle of Cleveland described to the Senate Medicaid Committee how a $200,000 annual state appropriation helped the organization grow programming and reach, and they asked the Senate for a $300,000 annual appropriation to expand services for children with disabilities and their families.
"For 22 years, Friendship Circle has been a lifeline for families raising children with disabilities," Ellie Schomer, development director, told the committee. She said the organization runs more than 30 programs, pairs children with teen volunteers and now serves families across Cuyahoga and Lake counties.
Schomer said the $200,000 appropriation in FY24 allowed Friendship Circle to launch 12 new programs, add six staff members and increase participation by about one-third. The group's annual budget is about $2.1 million, mostly from private donations; Schomer said the requested $300,000 annual appropriation would allow sustained program expansion and reduce fee pressure on families.
Participants included a parent who described how the organization provided camp and family-support navigation after his son Simon's autism diagnosis, and a teen volunteer who described the program's benefits for both teens and children. The committee did not take immediate action on the appropriation request but thanked witnesses for testimony.
