This realization was caused in part by the opioid epidemic that has hit Montgomery County, and particularly east Dayton, especially hard. In 2013, the East End staff was working with the police department to identify crime drivers in the neighborhood, and they discovered many crimes had to do with heroin use.

Meanwhile, the death rate had started to climb, causing a traumatic ripple effect throughout the neighborhood. By 2014, the death toll in Montgomery County was 264 and eventually rose to as many as 566 in 2017. “We realized some people really wanted help, but they didn’t know how to get it,” Executive Director Jan Lepore-Jentleson explained. “There wasn’t a system. There wasn’t a front door.”

East End was determined to become that front door. They continued working with the police department and other service providers over the next few years, visiting individuals who had survived an overdose to connect them with treatment providers and offer support for the families. Fortunately, they were soon met with an opportunity to expand their services to make a far greater impact, while achieving greater sustainability as well.

While in Dayton looking for a research partner, the WestCare Foundation, a national nonprofit offering health and human services based in Nevada, was referred to East End to learn more about the drug epidemic.

Through several conversations, the two organizations were able to learn about each other’s services, who they serve, and why. Eventually, the conversations ended with a question from the WestCare president and CEO, Richard Steinberg: Would East End be interested in joining the “WestCare family?” The answer was a resounding “yes.” On July 1, 2017, East End was acquired and legally became WestCare Ohio doing business as East End Community Services.

There were a lot of things to consider when making the decision, and East End staff asked tough questions to ensure a good partnership between the two organizations. While aspects like back office and grant writing support, employee benefits, and professional development were certainly appealing, it was ultimately the aligned corporate cultures that affirmed East End’s choice. Their identity, their building, and their people didn’t need to change; the mission was the main focus.

“They were absolutely supportive and understanding of our desire to maintain our identity,” Lepore-Jentleson said. “They’re most concerned about strengthening services in the community. The president and CEO has always had that attitude and approach of finding where the needs are and seeing how they can help.”

Since the acquisition, East End has received support for full employee benefits and back office operations, a family of “cousins” in organizations across the country, extensive grant writing support, and plans for a new database management system to be installed in the fall. In spring 2018, they completed six grant applications in less than two months, including one for a program for children of addicts called Camp Mariposa. At least 75 children are invited to the camp that will help teach them coping skills and, ultimately, help them be kids again. Another grant application is in process for the children’s families to help them rebuild family relationships.

Since the beginning, WestCare has been interested and
involved in the prevention and support services East End
provides children in the community. While the partnership is still new, East End believes they’re poised for positive, sustainable growth in the years to come because of the merger with the WestCare Foundation.

“In today’s nonprofit world of shrinking resources, the stronger and most financially stable organizations will benefit from grants and donor contributions to achieve their missions,” Lepore-Jentleson said. “WestCare is helping us achieve stability in a whole new way, and we are very grateful.”

“We realized some people really wanted help, but they didn’t know how to get it.”