Appointments only will be scheduled
for specialized cases, such as with an agency unit that works
with non-English speaking applicants.
Food stamp and cash assistance clients will no longer have
specific workers assigned to their individual cases. Instead
their cases will be managed by a group of eligibility
technicians.
Changes such as new employment or
home address will be reported to a call center or through the
agency's Web site.
"We are excited about these changes and believe that they will
enhance customer service, accuracy and timeliness," said Michael
Patton, section chief, Family and Adult Assistance 2. It is
anticipated that the changes will take place by Oct. 1.
Aug. 11, 2008 -- Hamilton County’s Department of Job and Family
Services is teaming with Cincinnati State and other community
partners to target 700 area dropouts for wraparound services that
will help them gain an education and much more.
Connect2Success
arose out of a proposal, jointly introduced in 2007 by Commissioners
Todd Portune and David Pepper, to identify and personally contact
area high school dropouts and facilitate their re-enrollment in an
educational program of their choosing. Students will remain in the
program, until they obtain their high school diploma or equivalent
degree. Connect2Success will also help students find and retain
employment; gain job readiness skills; secure connections to
apprenticeships, training, or post-secondary connections; and secure
a range of services customized to address barriers such as
ex-offender status or disabilities.
According to the U.S. Census,
approximately 17 percent of adults over age 25 in Hamilton County
did not graduate from high school. It is estimated that as many as
30 percent of students drop out before achieving a high school
degree.
Studies collected by the National
Education Association show that high school dropouts are 72 percent
more likely to be unemployed and will earn $260,000 less in their
lifetime than someone with a high school diploma.
“There are over 15,000 high
school dropouts between the ages of 15-25 in our area,” said
Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune. “They all run the risk of
having fewer opportunities in life. One of the best things we can do
to improve their future, and in doing so to improve Hamilton County,
is to be successful in obtaining their life affirming commitment to
get their high school degree.”
Cincinnati State has agreed to a
goal of 80 percent (560 students) completing the program
successfully and achieving a high school diploma, GED certificate or
vocational certificate.
“Dropping out is a crisis that
has long-term impact on the individual and on their community,” said
Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper. “When a young person
turns their back on education, we all pay. Getting them re-engaged
with education will not only make them stronger, it will make this
community stronger.”
Hamilton County will match a
$250,000 grant from the state to Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG)
to support vocational training. Cincinnati State and Jobs for
Cincinnati Graduates will connect the participants with area
agencies that will provide high school credit-recovery classes, GED
preparation and vocational training leading to certification.
Cincinnati State and JCG will work with a collaborative of local
community partners called Connect2Success to ensure the students
receive additional support.
Agency to share info at
Grandparent's Day celebration at downtown library
Aug. 15, 2008 -- Hamilton County Department of Job and Family
Services will share information about services available to
grandparents raising grandchildren during a resource fair on
Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Public Library of Cincinnati and
Hamilton County's downtown location.
In celebration of National Grandparents
Day, the library plans games, stories, prizes, health and
nutrition information -- and community agencies such as Job and
Family Services describing their offerings for grandparents and
their grandchildren. Children's Home, DeMax Personal Training,
Metro, Nutrition Council, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and others
are expected.
Celebrate National Grandparent's
Day: A day to celebrate the grandparents in our lives
Sunday, Sept. 7
2-4 p.m.
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
800 Vine St., downtown Cincinnati
All Ages
About 4.5 million children in the United States live in
grandparent-headed households. Ohio has about 150,000 children
living with their grandparents.
Hamilton County JFS
considers care by grandparents or other relatives to be a
desirable option for abused and neglected children who can no
longer live with their parents. Staying with a grandparent
allows the children to maintain their sense of belonging,
culture and traditions. Kinship care also reduces the financial
burden of foster care.
For a quick overview of services available through Hamilton
County JFS, see
help for grandparents
