Posted December 16, 20224:20 pm
By Dairian Heard
The Say Yes to Education program has been in Cleveland for four years. As of August 2022, all schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) are Say Yes schools. This means families using CMSD schools have access to scholarship, mentorship, and numerous supportive services, including legal services.
Family Support Specialists are located in each school to connect families to supportive services. The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides legal services for Say Yes families. Legal Aid can help with civil legal issues related to housing conditions, bankruptcy, education/suspension, just to name a few. When Legal Aid is unable to assist a family, referrals are made to community partners such as the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Scranton Road Ministries, and the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office.
Although families may come to Legal Aid for help with one issue, sometimes there are multiple issues that are causing problems. Legal Aid works with Family Support Specialists to find social and economic supports as needed.
In addition to supportive services, the Say Yes to Education program also provides scholarship and mentorship. Any student graduating from a Say Yes school is eligible for a scholarship to the college or training program of their choice. Graduates also are paired with a mentor in their career of interest through College Now. Learn more at sayyescleveland.org.
All three parts of Say Yes provide support to Cleveland students and families, and Legal Aid is proud to be a part of this collaboration.
Say Yes families in need of legal services can:
- Ask the Family Support Specialist at their school for a referral
- Call 216.861.5510 to request assistance
- Apply for help online – visit lasclev.org/contact, click “APPLY NOW”
- Attend a neighborhood Brief Advice Clinic - see list at lasclev.org/events
This article was published in Legal Aid's newsletter, "The Alert" Volume 38, Issue 3, in December 2022. See full issue at this link: “The Alert”- Volume 38, Issue 3 – Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.