Dear friends,
This is the
final Update of the year and my opportunity to summarize the
agency’s accomplishments in 2009. I am more proud than ever to talk
about the positive things we have done to help this community.
This has been,
perhaps, the most difficult year in agency history. Deep funding
cuts from the state forced us to re-evaluate personnel, programs,
services and much more. We reduced our staff by more than 700
positions. We were forced to shed non-mandated services and cut back
on those that are mandated. We prioritized and focused on our
mission, our mandates and what we do best.
Yet, through all
the turmoil, we helped more people than ever. By the end of the
year, about one in seven people in this community -– 115,000 --
received food stamps. One in six –- 137,000 -– received Medicaid.
More than 14,000 children received subsidized day care. Another
25,000 received cash assistance. In some cases, these numbers are
agency records. In others, they are post-welfare reform highs.
We have kept
children safe and families fed. We helped the uninsured stay
healthy. More than ever, we have been an agency that helps people
when they needed help most.
But it was more
than just providing services. We found new and better ways to do
things. We formed new partnerships. We became leaders in innovation,
quality and performance.
This agency was
awarded four 2009 achievement awards from the National Association
of Counties for innovative programs that contributed to and enhanced
county government. Only 500 programs throughout the country were
recognized, including 13 in Ohio. The awards received by this agency
represent a tremendous achievement and are a testament to our
dedication to continuously find new ways to help the citizens of
Hamilton County to a better place in life.
Other highlights
of the year:
- We launched
the Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) to help our
foster youth graduate from high school and transition to higher
learning by supporting them with a mentor.
- We launched
a new discount card for prescriptions drugs that has helped more
than 5,000 users save $100,000 on prescriptions.
- We had the
highest payment accuracy rate in food stamps among the 14
largest urban counties in a six-state region of the Midwest.
- We met the
child support paternity establishment benchmark of 80 percent
for the first time. This allows for 100 percent reimbursement on
federal dollars.
- The Public
Children’s Services Association of Ohio chose our own Gail
Merkle as Child Protection Worker of the Year and our foster
family, Robin and David Steele, as Foster Family of the Year.
- We have
found new and innovative ways to communicate with our clients,
our partners and the public. We now have weekly online chats
about various subjects. Our Child Support unit takes online
questions during certain hours of the week. We distribute
information via Facebook, Twitter, audio podcasts and I have
even started a blog. We have been recognized locally, statewide
and even nationally for our innovative communication methods.
Many more good
things have occurred at this agency throughout the past year. I am
proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the face of drastic
budget cuts and the current economic environment. I hope this recap
proves we have been doing far more than just treading water and that
the citizens of Hamilton County are better off because of services
we deliver to our community.
Enjoy your
holidays. I wish you and your families a peaceful new year. Here’s
to a better 2010!
Sincerely,
Moira
