Job and Family Services
The information listed below is intended to provide answers to some commonly asked questions. Please call our office for more information before stopping in.
Ohio Works First (OWF)
Builds on the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. It replaces Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), the federal cash assistance program for needy families with dependent children. OWF provides time-limited cash assistance which allows participants to receive cash benefits while working or participating in training to develop skills that will help them become self-sufficient.
OWF is administered by the ODJFS, under the supervision of ODJFS. ODJFS, working with each county's commissioners, enters into a Partnership Agreement to define how ODJFS will support local efforts to move citizens from dependency (public assistance) to independence (self-sufficiency). The county commissioners can assign the responsibility to provide coordination services to any organization deemed appropriate. Historically, public assistance has been provided by CDJFS
Food Stamp Program
Helps people with low incomes obtain nutritious food. The Food Stamp Direction Card is issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through job and family service departments, and are used to purchase specific staples and grocery items at participating grocery stores. Eligibility, determined by the CDJFS, is based on federal guidelines including income, resources and household sizes. Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) offers a wide array of work force development services to food stamp recipients who are not participating in OWF. FSET services include:
- employment placement assistance
- work experience
- basic education, including preparation for the HSED
- post-secondary education
- job readiness training
- job search assistance
- micro-enterprise assistance
The services are coordinated with other work force development providers in the community.
Disability Assistance
The Disability Assistance (DA) program is state and county funded and provides cash and medical coverage to certain persons ineligible for federally-supported public assistance programs. DA is designed to maintain health and help recipients meet basic needs.
Disability Assistance is available for qualified disabled Ohioans through a state-funded (non-Medicaid) program administered by the ODJFS Office of Medicaid. This provides limited health care coverage for medications, physician services and hospital services covered by Health Care Assurance Program (HCAP).
Medicaid
Is a large, multidimensional health coverage program that provides health care coverage to more than 1 million lower-income Ohioans. Coverage is administered by the state and funded by federal and state dollars. Eligibility for coverage is determined by ODJFS.
The ODJFS Office of Medicaid serves the needs of consumers through several program functions. They include:
- Member services
- Provider network management
- Quality assurance and improvement
- Coordination of benefits
- Claims processing and payment
- Benefit design and pricing
- Information services
- Utilization review and management
- Program integrity
The Medicaid program provides health care coverage to three primary markets: children to age 19 whose families fall within income guidelines (Healthy Start, Ohio's Title XIX Medicaid and Title XXI Children's Health Insurance Program) Working families with limited income, pregnant women and families participating in OWF including persons who are 65 or older, blind or have disabilities.
A web site at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/index.stm fully describes the Medicaid program, eligibility guidelines, health benefit plans and covered services. The Office of Medicaid operates a toll-free Consumer Hotline that can provide general Medicaid information. The number is 1-800-324-8680, or TDD 1-800-292-3572. The local number is 1-877-322-2273.
The Basic Medicaid Health Plan covers a wide range of services, including:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital care
- Prescription drugs
- Preventive health care
- Dental care
- Transportation
- Vision services
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment service
Long Term Care Health Plan
Long-Term Care Health Plan, Ohio Home Care Waiver, and Passport are other services that are available through the Office of Medicaid. Eligibility for these programs is determined by the local CDJFS.
Healthy Start
Healthy Start offers comprehensive health care coverage for children in families with income up to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline. Healthy Start includes coverage for doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, dental visits and eyeglasses. Individuals can get more information by calling the Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680, or locally at 1-877-322-2273.
Child Care Assistance
Child Care, Medicaid and transportation are also available to work activity participants.
Child Care Assistance programs pay a portion of the cost of child care while parents participate in OWF work activities. CDJSF is permitted to continue payment for up to one year following OWF participation. The CDJFS determines eligibility and pays eligible providers. Federal and state funds are used to reimburse the CDJFS for child care services.
Prevention, Retention and Contingency
PRC ( Prevention, Retention, and Contingency) is a program designed to help families in different levels of need. Participants may only need help to get past an initial barrier in order to work. PRC provides temporary help for a family while they are getting back on their feet due to unforeseen hardships. Each county designs its own PRC program to meet the needs of local families. PRC can help individuals keep jobs or help them get better jobs.
Learning, Earning and Parenting Program (LEAP) is designed to help OWF-eligible teen parents and pregnant teens who have not completed high school. Financial incentives are provided to help LEAP teens graduate or get their High School Equivalence Diploma (HSED). Supportive services such as child care, transportation and food stamps are available
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Employment & Training
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Employment and Training program (TANF E&T) focuses much-needed services on what has historically been the hard-to-serve population families that have been receiving cash assistance for two years or more. TANF E&T allows counties to design flexible employment and training efforts that support OWF's six guiding principles.
Work Force Development
Work Force Development is a coordinated system of programs for individuals that results in a pipeline of trained workers available to meet the needs of Ohio employers
WIA One Stop
WIA is a program that provides services to clients which include core services, assessment and provision of work experience and education. WIA coordinates services with our current Work Activity program.
One Stop is a concept of a no-wrong door philosophy whereby our clients can receive intensive training services that will move individuals toward self-sufficiency. he One-Stop system is used by everyone job seekers, parents and children looking at occupational trends, pregnant teens that need supportive services, employed people seeking to improve or add to their skills, retirees interested in part-time or volunteer employment, anyone needing a resume, etc.
Area agencies can also coordinate services to avoid clients being sent from place to place looking for the services they need to become active members of the work force.
One Stop will be utilized by employers for on site interviews and workshops, employee recruitment and screening, job matching services and coordination of training service with partner agencies.
Community and Faith-based Projects ODJFS helps counties work with local community and faith-based organizations to create partnerships and programs that help OWF participants and the working poor advance in the work force
Training
In July 1999, the ODJFS Office of Professional Development and Quality Services was created. Among its tasks is to bring together under one office the diverse training operations of the department. That training includes not only ODJFS staff, but staff of all county job and family services, children's services and child support agencies.
Social Services
The Adult Protective Services program reduces or remedies conditions causing endangerment to adults, maximizing the adult's independence and self-direction, and preventing unnecessary institutionalization. Support services are provided by CDJFS which are guided by ODJFS rules, policies and procedures.
Title XX of the Social Security Act provides funding to counties for local social services programs for families, children and adults. Funds are used to strengthen, restore, maintain or improve their ability to be self-supportive and independent. The funds are distributed by the state, but CDJFS determine what services will be available in their communities.
Employer Driven Training Opportunities
Health Check / Pregnancy
Health check/Pregnancy related services provides health care checkups for children birth to 21 who has a Medicaid Card. This service provides well-child physical, dental every six months, vision and hearing checkups and provides one pair of glasses per year, prescriptions.
Provides prenatal visits and transportation for pregnant women with a Medicaid card. May refer to other agencies for other needs relating to a pregnancy or a new birth
Information & Referral
Information and Referral - provides community members with information about services that are available to help with all types of needs. The hotline is available 8:00a.m. to 9:00 p.m. hours and can be reached by dialing (419) 522-4636.
While there are no fees for our services, an application is required.
Appointments are preferred.
Click here to visit our site: rcjfs.net
