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HCJFS likely to face challenges with state budget cuts
Although the full impact
of Governor John Kasich’s proposed budget is not known yet,
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HCJFS
to renew levy in November
Each year, the levy brings in
about $42 million that goes directly to helping the county
deliver services to abused and neglected children and their
families.
More... |
Hamilton
County Job and Family Services has already prepared for some initial
cuts to the agency.
While HCJFS is expected to
become more dependent on local dollars in the coming years, leaders
at the agency are optimistic that they will be able to avoid another
agency-wide downsizing similar in size to the reduction made in the
past few years.
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Teenager volunteers for foster children
McAuley High School freshman
Madison Woodard was thinking of ways to complete her service project
for school when she recalled babysitting her neighbor’s daughter.
Her neighbor is a foster parent and has been for many years. Madison
wanted to do something for other foster children to make them smile.
With inspiration from her
neighbor, Madison Woodard and her mother, Julie, called Hamilton
County Job and Family Services and spoke with Public Inquiries
Specialist Kathy Northcutt. They jointly came up with the idea to
collect bags of toys, books and stuffed animals for foster children.
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Work Participation Rates above 50 percent
Despite a dramatic reduction in staff,
Hamilton County Job and Family Services has brought the work
participation rates of families receiving aid through the Ohio Works
First program up to 50 percent for the first time in agency history,
making it a top performing county in Ohio.
Ohio Works First (OWF) provides cash assistance
to families in need of temporary assistance. Families can qualify
for benefits for up to five years, but in order to receive
assistance, they must participate in an ongoing work, school or
volunteer activity for 30 hours each week, or 20 hours if there is a
child under age 6 in the home.
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Hamilton
County hosts fraud chat for people to report public assistance abuse
More than a dozen Hamilton County residents logged into a live chat
March 22 to report someone they suspected was illegally receiving
public assistance.
The chat was part of an ongoing effort launched by Hamilton County
Commissioner Greg Hartmann in January to reduce public assistance
fraud within the county. He created the Hamilton County Coalition to
Stop Fraud, Scams & Abuse, with representatives from the business
community, law enforcement, social service agencies and local
non-profits. More...
Events
 HEMI Education Fair
What: Education Fair designed
specifically for foster children. High School students are invited
to learn more about continuing education and will have the
opportunity to speak with college and or trade representatives.
When: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9
Where: Annie Laws Conference Room #407,
Teacher's College, University of Cincinnati
Information: Lunch will be provided;
parking will be validated, the CCM parking garage is the closest
Who: The Higher Education Mentoring
Initiative is a partnership between Hamilton County Job and Family
Services, the Hamilton County Commissioners, the University of
Cincinnati, Cincinnati State and Great Oaks Career Campuses. HEMI's
aim is to place foster children with a mentor that will help guide
them through the often difficult path of higher education.
 Pinwheels for
Prevention
What: HCJFS will place
5,058 pinwheels, one for each report of child abuse we've received
in the past year
When: Next week
Where: Burnet Woods in
Clifton Park
More...
May Day for foster care
What:
Learn about becoming a foster parent, mentoring, becoming a court
appointed special advocate, a guardiam ad litem or defining your own
role that you can play in the life of a foster child. Hamilton
County has 850 foster children on any given day they are more likely
than their peers to drop out of school, become a teen parent or end
up in prison. They count on this community to open their hearts to
them.
When:
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 2
Where:
Fountain Square
Who:
Agencies that play a vital role
in the success of foster children will be present: Hamilton County's
Department of Job and Family Services, Hamilton County's Juvenile
Court, ProKids and the Guardian Ad Litem Division of the Public
Defender's Office
Information:
With your help, foster children can avoid pitfalls and become
valuable members of the Hamilton County community. You have the
opportunity to change a life and change your community. |
Adopt
11-year-old Omar, who loves sports
