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An Ounce of Prevention Focused on n ed in he inner city

Evaughn Cagle, founder and CEO of Urban Ounce of Prevention Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (UOPBHS), has been involved in community service for decades. As a teenager in east Akron, working as a church volunteer and for the local Goodwill agency, she first became aware of the unmet needs of inner city communities, and developed the desire to make a difference. Motivated to make a career of helping people, Cagle attended Hiram College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. Cagle’s first, post-college job was a formative experience: working as an employee assistance counselor for B.F. Goodrich, at one of the world’s largest tire manufacturing facilities. One of her functions was counseling employees whose alcohol and drug use was affecting their ability to work, and referring them for treatment. Wanting to have more impact on the larger community, Cagle eventually moved on to a local nonprofit in the inner city where she not only helped clients receive addiction treatment, but also expanded her efforts into working to prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

Launching an agency In 1990, Cagle took her next big step, obtaining startup funding from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and opening Urban Ounce of Prevention Behavioral Health Services, Inc. in the west Akron inner city. Her husband, Alexander Cagle, was the co-founder. “I can honestly say that the agency would not have grown to be what it is today without him, his wisdom and talents,” she says.

The following year, UOPBHS earned certification as a Medicaid service provider, enabling it to serve more clients.Currently located at 1735 Hawkins Ave. S. in Akron, UOPBHS provides a comprehensive range of community based services to adults, families and adolescents.