Welcome to NEORTC!
Northeast Ohio
The Northeast Ohio Regional Training Center (NEORTC) proudly serves the counties of Ashland, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne. NEORTC’s offices and training site are located at:
264 South Arlington Street, Akron, OH 44306
As part of the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP), NEORTC is committed to high quality family-centered training for child protective staff and caregivers in its fourteen-county region.
In cooperation with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO), and Ohio’s University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS), the staff at NEORTC have provided competency-based training since 1986.
NEORTC Training
PCSA staff, caregivers, and assessors should log into CAPS LMS to view and enroll in [RTC] training. Anyone who does not have access to the CAPS LMS should review PDF versions of [RTC] training calendars linked below and use the appropriate guest registration process detailed below.
Guest learners include but are not limited to PCSA, county DJFS, or CSEA staff who do not have a child/adult protective services role; retired PCSA staff; law enforcement; teachers; court-appointed special advocates; mental health professionals; and court staff (e.g., public defenders and prosecutors). Guest learners will not be provisioned access to CAPS LMS but will be added to the requested instructor-led session on a space-available basis. Guest learners must complete the OCWTP Guest Registration Form linked below to request access to training. Registrants will need the CAPS LMS session locator # listed on the training calendars linked below to complete the form.
Coaching
Interested in participating in the OCWTP coaching program? Search for “Coaching Request Form” in the CAPS LMS and follow the instructions to submit the form. RTC staff will contact you with additional information upon receipt.
Cancellation & Weather Policies
Staff Training
In case of severe winter driving conditions, please call NEORTC at (330) 379-2003 after 6:30 a.m. to find out if training is cancelled. If it is, the message on the recorder will inform you of the cancellation. If there is no message to that effect, then training will be held that day. However, if training is being held, please note your driving conditions from your location and determine if it is safe for you to travel to NEORTC. For county-hosted staff trainings, liaisons will make the determination if training should be cancelled and should notify NEORTC as soon as possible of the cancellation.
Also, if any trainee encounters travel delays, they can call the front desk number 330-379-1805 to alert NEORTC staff so trainers can be informed of a delay in arrival. Please keep in mind the “15 Minute Rule.”
Caregiver Training
Since most caregiver trainings are held in the counties, the county hosting that training is responsible to determine whether a training should be cancelled due to weather conditions impacting their area. NEORTC should be notified as soon as possible of any cancellation. The county is responsible for notifying their registered caregivers; NEORTC will notify any caregivers outside of that specific county as well as private caregivers registered to attend the session.
Contact NEORTC
Address: 264 South Arlington Street, Akron, OH 44306
Front Desk: (330) 379-1805 (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)
After-hours emergency contact for trainers and producers only:
Mary Serapiglia, NEORTC Director
(330) 808-4350
Mary Serapiglia, LISW-S, NEORTC Director
(330) 379-2003
mary.serapiglia@summitkids.org
Jodie Hembree, LISW-S, Training Coordinator, Staff Training
(330) 379-1867
jodie.hembree@summitkids.org
Kimberley Gear, MSSA, LSW, Training Coordinator, Caregiver Training
(330) 379-1976
kimberley.gear@summitkids.org
Cindy Wallis, M.A., CFLE, Training Coordinator, Caregiver Training
(330) 379-1931
cynthia.wallis@summitkids.org
Berenice Friddle, Training Coordinator, Staff Training (Part Time)
(330) 379-2064
berenice.friddle@summitkids.org
Taria Parks, Caregiver Coach
(330) 375-1685
taria.parks@summitkids.org
Penny Myers, Administrative Assistant III
(330) 379-2091
penny.myers@summitkids.org
Laurie Barker, Clerical Specialist, Staff Training
(330) 379-1982
laurie.barker@summitkids.org
Emma Prpich, Clerical Specialist, Foster Parent Training
(330) 379-1935
emma.prpich@summitkids.org
Check Your County’s Training Liaison
| County | Name | Phone Number | |
| Ashland DJFS | Mark Keck | (440) 282-5036 | Mark.Keck2@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Ashtabula CSB | Beverly DeFazio | (440) 998-1811 | Beverly.Defazio@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Columbiana DJFS | Paula Beverly | (330) 420-6661 | Paula.Beverly@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Geauga DJFS | Dawn Bates | (440) 285-1102 | Dawn.Bates@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Holmes DJFS | Susan Shernit | (330) 674-1111 | Susan.Shernit@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Lake DJFS | Mary Udics | (440) 350-4333 | Mary.Udics@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Lorain CS | Christen Wilhelm | (440) 329-5340 | Christenwilhelm@childrenservices.org |
| Mahoning CSB | Lynette Paris | (330) 941-8860 | Lynette.Paris@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Medina DJFS | Rosalind Caro | (330) 661-0808 | Rosalind.Caro2@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Portage DJFS | Megan Workman | (330) 593-9475 | Megan.Workman@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Stark DJFS | Angi Rosa | (330) 451-8927 | Angi.Rosa@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Summit CS | Kelly Aloisi | (330) 379-1984 | Kelly.Aloisi@summitkids.org |
| Trumbull CSB | Lori Yedlicka | (330) 372-2010 x1342 | Lori.Yedlicka@jfs.ohio.gov |
| Wayne CSB | Eric Killinger | (330) 345-5340 | Eric.Killinger@jfs.ohio.gov |
Getting to NEORTC
