Who We Are  | Where We Are | Vision and Mission | History | Governance

Financial Information | Leadership | Employees | Programs | Our customers

 

Agency Overview video
Who We Are 

The Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services (HCJFS) administers state, federal and local programs designed to help those in need. Several major government programs come under our roof including:

Leadership

Moira Weir became the agency's director on July 1, 2007. For Weir's bio, and that of the other Operations Team members, please see agency leadership.

Where We Are

HCJFS has one primary location: (click the addresses for maps):

Other business sites:

Main telephone line: (513) 946-1000

Web sites:

Employees

HCJFS has about 950 employees.

Vision and Mission

For HCJFS to be the center of a collaborative effort that:

  • Draws together and leads social service agencies, businesses, governments, families and other community stakeholders in the fight against social issues, such as poverty and child abuse.
  • Guides, supports and values those who have chosen to make a difference in the lives of Hamilton County’s families and children.
  • Delivers cost-effective services in a compassionate, caring and non-judgmental manner to Hamilton County’s families and children.

We, the HCJFS staff, provide services for our community today to enhance the quality of living for a better tomorrow.

History

HCJFS has been part of Hamilton County government for more than 60 years.

County Commissioners passed a resolution on October 4, 1947 establishing the Department of Welfare. The new agency opened a month later at 411 Lincoln Park Drive (now Ezzard Charles Drive) in the West End with Frederick A. Breyer as its first director.

In 1987, the agency changed its name to the Hamilton County Department of Human Services. In July 2001, the organization took its current name to reflect the state's merger of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services with the Ohio Department of Human Services into the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Today, HCJFS is Ohio's largest combined public services agency, comprised of these major program areas:

  • Children's Services

  • Child Support

  • Family and Adult Assistance

  • Workforce Development

Governance

HCJFS administers a variety of federal programs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (food assistance) and other agencies. At the state level, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services oversees these programs for all 88 counties. Locally, we are the largest department of Hamilton County government and report to the Board of Hamilton County Commissioners.

Financial

HCJFS programs receive federal, state and local funding. This includes operating funds as well as payments to consumers in welfare, Medicaid and other benefits.

The only local funds to HCJFS come from the Children’s Services tax levy, which provides about $41 million annually to help cover costs of child protection services.

Programs

Children’s Services – Legally responsible for responding to reports of child abuse, neglect and dependency (241-KIDS); acting to protect child victims; and recruiting foster and adoptive parents

Child Support Services – Child Support is money required by law to be paid by one parent to another parent to help cover the costs of raising their children. HCJFS Child Support establishes and enforces child support orders; establishes paternity; modifies child support orders; enforces spousal support; and performs other customer services.

Family and Adult Assistance includes:

Cash Assistance – monthly check to eligible low-income families with minor children at home. Called Ohio Works First (OWF). Families may receive assistance for up to 36 months.

Food Assistance – a monthly benefit given to eligible families to help buy food. Known as the Ohio Direction Card. (Formerly called Food Stamps)

Medicaid – State and federally-funded health care coverage for income-eligible parents and their children up to age 21; pregnant women; older adults; and people with disabilities.

Child Care - covers part of the cost of child care for eligible low and moderate-income families. Parents choose from a list of more than 1,500 home providers and centers that have contracts with HCJFS.

Other services:

Adult Protective - abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly (421-LIFE)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Case Management - applications and appeals

Workforce Development - helps people join the workforce and move up the economic ladder.

Visit the Online Service Center


Customers

HCJFS serves hundreds of thousands of Hamilton County residents each year.

In an average month during 2008:

  • One in 48 Hamilton County residents received cash assistance (same as 2007--and a decline of nearly 60 percent decline since the mid-1990s when welfare reform was implemented)

  • One in 11 residents received food stamps (unchanged)

  • One in 7 was covered by Medicaid (1 in 6 in 2007)

  • One in 15 children used a public voucher for child care (1 in 16 in 2007)

  • One in 4 residents was involved in a child support case (unchanged)

  • One in 12 children had contact with Children’s Services (unchanged)