The Children‘s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County was founded as a Big Brothers Agency in 1974. The Big Sisters program was added in 1978 and, in May of 2004, the Board of Directors voted to discontinue the affiliation with BBBS of America and officially became a locally independent organization.
CMC provides a professionally monitored mentoring program for boys and girls, primarily from single parent families, children living with grandparents or other caregivers. It is our vision that every qualified child, needing services will be actively engaged in a mentoring relationship designed to enhance their personal growth as competent, caring, and confident individuals.
The agency staff recruits, screens and closely evaluates adult applicants while gathering a complete social history and personality profile on each youth applicant. Once a match between adult and child is made, follow-up supervision and guidance is provided to the mentor, client and parent/guardian. The volunteer works with the child in an asset-building relationship in the areas of growth and development, prevention, life-skills, problem solving and decision making. If there are additional needs the family identifies the Case Manager will offer support, networking and referral service to other Hancock County social service agencies.
CMC is governed by a Board of Directors, each of whom is elected to a three-year term.
The Children’s Mentoring Connection funds help provide mentoring programs and services in Hancock County. These funds enable us to assist in the development of competent, caring, and confident youth through effective and measurable mentoring programs. These youth grow up to support our local workforce, be community leaders, college graduates and future mentors.
Children’s Mentoring Connection (CMC) has been a United Way partner agency since 1976.
Bowling For Kids began in 1984 and has been our signature fundraising event. BFK is always held in early spring and has become a Findlay-Hancock County tradition.
The first Uncorked & Unplugged fundraising event was hosted in 2009. It is a unique evening of fine wine, food & music, held at the Hancock Hotel in the fall.
Many individuals, churches and businesses support the organization through private contributions. All of the agencies dollars stay in Hancock County to serve our local youth.
Our experienced and dedicated staff has been serving the findlay Community for years. Meet them!
Executive Director
E-mail MeStacy Shaw has been in the child welfare field for almost 36 years. She began her career at a local private foster care agency Diversion Treatment Foster Care where she served as the State Director for 27 years serving the Findlay, Cincinnati, and Cleveland areas. Stacy was the Coordinator of Hancock County Children and Family First Council and the Help Me Grow Early Intervention program in 2016. In January of 2017, Stacy joined the staff of Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County as the Executive Director.
Stacy has served on many committees including Northwest Ohio Foster Care and Adoption Committee, Ohio Association of Children Services of Ohio, Hancock County Opioid Task Force, Human Trafficking Coalition, and Raise the Bar. She is Co-Chair of the Community partnership committee at the Hancock County ADAMHS board, and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Stacy is excited to be a member of the Children’s Mentoring Connection Team. She has seen the difference a caring adult can make in the lives of children in foster care, adoption, and mentoring. The one thing she consistently has heard from those involved in the lives of children is how much the child has impacted the adult’s life as well.
Business Manager
E-mail MeMary joined the CMC staff in April of 2021. Mary provides administrative support to the staff and helps wherever needed. Mary enjoys kayaking, hiking, and spending time with family in her free time.
Case Manager
E-mail MeNikki Hagerty joined Children’s Mentoring Connection in January 2002 as an Administrative Case Manager. Her job at CMC is to interview potential mentors which include not only discussion with the individual but conducting home visits and background checks as well. It is also her duty to interview parents who are interested in getting their children into the program. As a Case Manager, Nikki also supports the relationship between the mentors and mentees. She is a Bowling Green State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Services.
Case Manager
E-mail MeMegan graduated from the University of Findlay in 2022 with a degree in Psychology. She will be overseeing our community and school-based mentoring programs at Bigleow Hill, Wilson Vance, Glenwood and Donnel Schools.
Development and Engagement Specialist
E-mail MeJennie Hammond joined Children’s Mentoring Connection in February 2024 as the Development and Engagement Specialist. She graduated from Owens Community College in 2015 with an associate degree in Medical Office Administration and from Tiffin University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
Jennie’s passion for mentoring began in 1980 when she became a part of our program as a child, forming a lasting bond with her mentor. This meaningful relationship has given Jennie firsthand insight into the importance of having a mentor and making memorable connections.
In her role, Jennie focuses on building connections in the community, recruiting youth and volunteers for our programs, and planning the organization’s fundraisers. In her free time, Jennie enjoys watching her son wrestle in college and spending time with family and friends.
We are grateful to have many community partners. Their support enables us to offer our programs at no cost to the families we serve.
