Mission Statement
Warren Educational College Access Network (WECAN) seeks to prepare Warren County Citizens for their future by increasing awareness and enrollment in post-secondary opportunities.

Program History
The organization and development of WECAN began with attendance at OCAN Conferences and Seminars. After a presentation to the Area Progress Council of Warren County, plans were put in place to establish an OCAN Program in Warren County. The advisory committee was organized and members initiated the following activities:

• Built steering committee;
• Visited other OCAN member programs;
• Met with high school counselors;
• Secured the use of a conference room at the YMCA for a resource center;
• Assigned Louise Hayes, a retired high school counselor, as lead advisor; and
• Established monthly meetings with advisory/steering committee for planning and strategy.

Program Services and Goals
WECAN will begin with a pilot program at the Warren County Career Center in February 2006. Louise Hayes, WECAN Advisor, will meet individually and in groups with seniors and their parents, encouraging them to continue their education and assisting them with post-secondary and college applications, financial aid forms and available scholarship information. Each year advisors will be added to high schools in Warren County. Louise Hayes will assist, train, and manage other advisors as they are added in all of the high schools in Warren County. Advisors will also participate in the training and work with the resources provided by OCAN.

A resource center for parents, students, and community will be established at the Countryside YMCA to make the access program available for after school hours and to the adult community. Efforts are being made to assure the resources, materials, equipment will mostly be donated to the WECAN Resource Center. Future strategies and additional ideas for activities and services will be gained through continued collaboration with OCAN and other county access programs, Ohio Association of College Admission Counselors (OACAC), and Ohio Association of Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA).

Service Area
WECAN seeks to have an advisor in every high school in Warren County within the next 3 years. The schools to be served include: Carlisle Local Schools, Franklin Local Schools, Kings Local Schools, Lebanon City Schools, Little Miami Local Schools, Mason City Schools, Springboro City Schools, Waynesville Local Schools, and the Warren County Career Center.

College Access Program Map