Agency Overview

STARK COUNTY

Job & Family S E R V I C E S

Making a Difference in Our Community

MissionTo partner with our

customers, community and other service

providers to protect children and vulnerable

adults, stabilize and strengthen families, and encourage self

sufficiency and personal responsibility.

VisionWe envision an Agency

where all employees take pride in their jobs

and work with the community to provide outstanding service to the residents of Stark

County.

Executive Director Julie Barnes, M.Ed., LSW

This Agency Overview is a publication of Stark

County Job & Family Services. If you have

questions or comments, contact Bill Burgess at

(330)451-8869 or e-mailburgew@odjfs.state.

oh.us.

Stark County Job & Family Services

Table of Contents

Human Services, 3-6Food Assistance Program, 3Ohio Works First (OWF) - Cash Assistance, 3Medicaid for Aged, Blind & Disabled, 4Nursing Home and Waivers, 4Medicare Assistance Programs, 4Medicaid for Families & Children, 5Additional Medicaid-Related Programs, 5Job Opportunity and Basic Skills, 6Child Care Programs, 6

Child Support, 7-9Disbursements, 7Payment Options, 7Enforcement, 8Establishing Paternity, 8Modifying a Support Order (3 Steps), 9

Children Services, 10-12Report Child Abuse, 10Signs of Child Abuse/Neglect, 10Adoption, 11Independent Living Services, 11Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent, 12

The Human Services Division provides Ohio Works First cash assistance; medical assistance; food assistance; and job-related services including subsidized child care to eligible individuals and families in Stark County.

Food Assistance Program (FAP) - Ohio Direction CardEligibility: Income and asset based.

The Food Assistance Program (FAP) supplements the resources of low-income individuals and families by providing assistance to purchase food.

Eligible customers use the Ohio Direction Card as they would an ATM or debit card. The card can be used at all grocery stores that display the Ohio Direction Card sticker.

Ohio Works First (OWF) - cash assistanceEligibility: Income and familial status based.

Ohio Works First (OWF) provides time-limited cash assistance to eligible families through Ohio’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.

Ohio Works First eligibility requirements include:• Minor child in an assistance group or a pregnant

woman at least six-months pregnant.• Children must reside with a parent, specified

relative, legal guardian or a legal custodian.• Unmarried minor parents and pregnant minors

must be in an approved adult-supervised living arrangement, or live with a parent, legal guardian, specified relative or legal custodian.

• Adults and minor heads-of-household who apply for or receive benefits must sign a self-sufficiency contract.

During the 36-month eligibility period, SCJFS provides support to adult participants to become job-ready, obtain necessary job skills, and at times, find employment. After 36 months, families are ineligible for further cash payments unless SCJFS approves an extension of benefits. A family may apply for a hardship extension at any time after their 36 month time-limit has ended.

Human Services 3

Medicaid For Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD Medicaid)Eligibility: Individuals who are aged, blind, or have a disability (as classified by the Social Security Administration) must meet established financial and non-financial guidelines in order to be eligible.

Medicaid covers the following medical expenses: • Prescription co-payments• Medically related travel and/or lodging expenses• Hearing aids• Glasses• Most dental and vision office visits • Any portion of doctor bills not covered by any other

type of medical insurance.

If an individual meets all ABD Medicaid requirements except her/his income is too high, she/he may qualify for Medicaid Spenddown. This allows individuals to deduct medically related expenses from her/his income or prepay an amount so that her/his income will fall within ABD financial guidelines.

Nursing Home Medicaid & Home And Community Based Services (HCBS) WaiversIf an individual cannot pay for the cost of a nursing home and meets the medical criteria and income limits, she/he may be eligible for assistance.

The Medicaid waiver programs offer “waives” or set aside, certain requirements of Medicaid, allowing an individual to stay home instead of going into a nursing home or a hospital. They can also shorten an individual’s stay in a nursing home. Medicaid waivers can provide nursing care, personal care, adult day care, and respite care. The waivers provide these services to people who would otherwise be in a nursing home. Medicaid usually cannot cover these services.

Medicare Assistance ProgramsIndividuals receiving Medicare coverage may be eligible for Medicare Assistance Programs. Depending on the individual’s income and circumstances, some of these programs can assist in paying Medicare premiums.

Human Services 4

Medicaid For Families & ChildrenEligibility: Varies

Ohio Works First - Related MedicaidThis program is for recipients of Ohio Works First cash assistance

Transitional MedicaidIf an individual is receiving OWF and gets a job which results in the loss of their cash assistance, it may be possible to continue health care for themselves and their family for up to 12 months.

Low Income Family (LIF)This program is for families who meet Medicaid income guidelines but who are not eligible for cash assistance.

Healthy FamilyThis program is for families who meet the Medicaid income guidelines, but are not eligible for cash assistance or LIF.

Healthy StartThis program is for children under 19 and pregnant women who do not meet the regular eligibility requirements for OWF-related Medicaid.

Healthy Start ExpansionThis program is for children under the age of 19, without creditable medical insurance. Creditable medical insurance is having physician AND hospital coverage.

Human Services

Additional Medicaid-Related Programs

Non-Emergency Transportation (Net)This program is available for Medicaid recipients. Non-Emergency Transportation is intended to arrange transportation to health-care services that are reimbursed or paid for by Medicaid. Please contact SCJFS at 330-451-8486 or 330-451-8449 for more information. It is preferred that transportation requests are made 5 business days in advance of the scheduled appointment.

At Risk Pregnancy ServicesMedicaid eligible pregnant women receive additional services from their doctor or clinic though this program. These services include pregnancy counseling, education, nutrition counseling, care coordination, and transportation to and from their prenatal appointments.

HealthChekThis program is a comprehensive and preventative benefit package for Medicaid eligible children and young adults under the age of 21. It is designed to keep children healthy by providing routine check-ups and immunizations so that any problems can be detected early and be treated properly.

Breast & Cervical Cancer ProjectThe Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 allows States to provide Medicaid coverage to eligible women in need of treatment for breast and cervical cancer, including pre-cancerous conditions.

5

Human Services

Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) SCJFS’ JOBS Program provides services to recipients of Ohio Works First (OWF) cash assistance and Food Assistance. Many recipients of cash and/or food assistance are required by State/Federal regulations to perform specific assignments to establish or regain self-sufficiency and ultimately be removed from benefit assistance. JOBS works with these Stark County residents to enhance their employability. The JOBS counselor first meets with the required household member(s), assesses their skill level(s) and determines the type of task they should be assigned to increase their workforce knowledge and capability. The counselor also determines, based on benefit amount and other variables, the total hours per month the participant must be assigned to one or more of the following activities:

EmploymentThis is the ultimate goal of the JOBS Program-to help participants gain self-sufficiency through employment. Even though some participants may already be employed, they may not work enough hours or do not earn a wage that allows them to be self-sufficient. JOBS Counselors monitor their work hours as well as assign individuals to another activity that will help to increase their employability skills.

Work Experience Program (WEP)JOBS partners with many businesses/organizations to assign individuals to perform needed job duties at the business’ work site. Unpaid participants are trained and mentored on the job and are afforded the opportunity to gain work skills, improve work habits and build character.

Community Service (CS)SCJFS partners with many community service based organizations where individuals are assigned to perform needed job duties. Unpaid participants are trained and mentored on the job and are afforded the opportunity to gain work skills, improve their work habits and build character.

TrainingThe participant is in an approved schooling/training program where training and study hours are monitored.

Alternative WorkThis JOBS participation classification is for individuals with a temporary disability and a viable medical excuse. SCJFS monitors their situation until they are released to return to an activity.

Job Search SCJFS assigns individuals to seek gainful employment while monitoring the hours needed to complete applications and attend interviews for potential employers.

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) This assignment is for minor parents (age 19 and under) only and promotes completion of their high school education.

Child Care Programs Publicly Funded Child Care helps the caretakers of families pay for their child care costs. Families participating in the Publicly Funded Child Care program are required to pay a portion of their child care costs to their child care provider each billing cycle.

6

What We Do:• Manage 33,500 child and spousal support cases• Establish paternity, and obtain support and

medical insurance orders• Enforce existing support orders• Modify existing child support orders• Locate absent parents responsible for support• Request other states to enforce Ohio orders of

support for parents who live out-of-state• Terminate orders for current support upon the

emancipation of minor children

What We Can’t Do?• Establish custody or visitation rights• Provide legal advice• Modify existing spousal support• Collect payments owed on medical bills

DisbursementsE-DisbursementChild support customers in Ohio can have their payments placed directly into their bank accounts by an electronic funds transfer. Also, the Ohio e-QuickPay program enables customers to have their payments credited directly to an Ohio e-QuickPay Debit MasterCard. For more information, call 1-800-503-1283

Web PortalCustomers can check the status of their payments on the Child Support Customer Service Web Portal:

http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocs

Payment OptionsPay by MailPayments should be mailed to and made payable to:Ohio Child Support Payment CentralP.O. Box 182394Columbus, Ohio 43218-2394

Please include with your payment the following information:• 700# assigned to your case• The court order or administrative order number

Pay in personThe payment window will accept cash or payments made by check/money order. Please have available the 700# assigned to your case when making payments.

CSEA Payment Window/Drive-thru122 Cleveland Avenue, NWCanton, Ohio 44702

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Child Support Enforcement Agency is committed to providing quality child support services, including: establishing paternity and support, issuing orders for medical support, modifying and enforcing support orders, and monitoring the collection and disbursement of support payments.

Child Support Enforcement 7

EnforcementOnce there is a support order, the Child Support Enforcement Agency has many ways to enforce it.

• Withholding child support from wages/earnings, unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, social security benefits, disability benefits, bank accounts, pensions, lottery winnings and inheritances

• Intercepting federal and state tax refunds• Reporting the delinquent parent to the credit

bureau• Suspending driver’s and professional licenses• Freezing and seizing assets held at financial

institutions through the Financial Institution Data Match Program (FIDM)

• Issuing an order to require the non-custodial parent to seek work

• Placing liens on certain property• Taking cases to court for failure to obey the

support order

Driver’s License Suspension can be ordered when:• Non-custodial parent has been issued a notice

for failing to comply with the support order and potential consequences

• Non-custodial parent must not be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or OWF benefits

• Non-custodial parent is not incarcerated in a state prison or federal prison

• A “Last Chance Letter” has been sent to the non-custodial parent and less than 50% of the monthly obligation has been paid for the previous three month period.

Establishing PaternityEstablishing paternity means legally naming a father for your child. When a child is born to parents who are married to each other, the mother’s husband is presumed to be the father of the child, and paternity is automatically established.

If a child is born to parents who are not married, paternity is not automatically established. You must have paternity established.

How and where can paternity be established?Paternity can be established at your local child support enforcement agency or hospital by signing a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity affidavit. When necessary, the agency will conduct genetic testing on all parties involved by using a buccal swab to collect DNA samples from the inside of the mouth. The samples will then be sent to a laboratory to be tested. Test results are usually back within 4-6 weeks. The results will be mailed to all parties involved. Results must be 99% or greater to legally determine the father.

Custody Rights of an unmarried motherAn unmarried female who gives birth to a child is the legal custodian of the child until a court issues an order designating another person as the legal custodian. A court designating the legal custodian of a child shall treat the mother and father as standing on equal ground when making the designation.

Fatherhood InitiativeSCJFS is an active member of the Stark County Fatherhood Coalition and works with community partners to help overcome roadblocks and barriers preventing non-custodial parents from making support payments. The agency understands the importance of having two parents actively involved in a child’s daily life and strongly supports programs through the Fatherhood Coalition which encourages individuals to be responsible fathers.

Child Support Enforcement8

Modifying a Support Order (3 Steps)

Step 1: Do I meet the Criteria?If you believe your child support order should increase or decrease, you may contact the Child Support Enforcement Division to request a modification.

The following are a few of the circumstances which may warrant a review of your level of support:

• 30% increase or decrease in income• New job, lost job or change in hours worked• New access to employer provided health

insurance or to establish a medical support order• Emancipation of one of your children• No modification for the past 3 years

The monthly obligation may go up or down as a result of the modification.

Step 2: What we need from you!SCJFS will send a modification packet to both parties to get you started. To complete your request you must submit:

• Last 3 years of signed federal tax returns• Pay stubs or verification for the last 2 months• Verification of all health insurance available

through employer• Front and back copy of medical card• Completed modification affidavit (sent in

packet)

If the party requesting the adjustment does not complete the packet, the modification review will terminate.

Step 3: The Administrative Adjustment Review for a ModificationThe agency reviews the income information in the returned packets and calculates a new monthly child support obligation according to state guidelines.

• A modification recommendation will be mailed to both parties.

• Each party has 33 days to object to the recommendation in writing to the Stark County Child Support Enforcement Division.

• If the objection is received, an administrative hearing will be conducted at the Stark County Child Support Enforcement Division facility.

• After the Administrative Hearing, each party has 15 days to object to the filed hearing report with the Stark County Family Court.

If there is no objection, the recommendation will be sent to the appropriate court to be adopted or made effective for administrative orders.

Child Support Enforcement 9

Children Services

Signs of Child Abuse or NeglectChildren come to our attention because they are at risk of either abuse or neglect. Abuse represents an action against a child. Generally abuse is categorized as physical (the non-accidental injury of a child), sexual (any act of a sexual nature upon or with a child) or emotional (acts which interfere with the psychological and social development of a child).Neglect is failure to act on behalf of a childrearing practices that are inadequate or dangerous. Neglect can be either physical or emotional.

Report Child Abuse/NeglectIf you are concerned that a child is being abused or neglected call (330) 455-KIDS (5437) or 1-800-233-KIDS (5437). This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

If you are concerned about a child who does not live in Stark County, please call the Childhelp® USA National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).

To make a report you will need at a minimum:• A description of the alleged abuse or neglect• The address or current location of the child

Please provide the following information, if available:• Although optional, your name and phone number is

preferred• Family’s name and address• Non-custodial parent’s name and address• Name(s) of child(ren) in the home• Date(s) of birth or ages• School(s) and Grade(s)• Explanation for concerns of abuse and neglect• School attendance, grades, behaviors of child(ren)

Who Should Make a Report?Certain professionals are identified in the Ohio Revised Code as “mandated reporters.” These are individuals who work with children or have access that might cause them to become aware of a child at risk of abuse or neglect. However, anyone who has reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected should contact us.

We are Here to HelpThe Children Services Division is committed to protecting children and strengthening families. Children Services staff will assess the extent and level of risk to the child and determine the need for intervention. If a child is at risk of abuse or neglect we will provide direct service to the family and/or refer them to other community service organizations. The goal is always to improve the family functioning and maintain the safety and well-being of the child(ren).

The Children Services Division serves the county’s children at risk of abuse or neglect and their families. SCJFS is legally responsible for taking reports of child abuse, neglect and dependency; investigating reports; and acting to protect children at risk of harm. The agency also takes reports of suspected abuse, neglect and/or exploitation for adults age sixty and older. Children Services recruits and trains foster and adoptive families, prepares children for adoption, arranges for post-adoption services to families, and provides training in independent living skills for older teens.

10

We Need YouEvery child needs a loving home and a permanent, life-long connection with caring adults. Unfortunately, when events in the lives of families jeopardize the safety and well-being of children, it can be necessary to temporarily find alternative caregivers. SCJFS strives to place children with family members or someone known to the child, whenever possible. When kinship placement is not possible, SCJFS turns to its licensed family foster homes for an appropriate alternative placement. There is a great need for loving, nurturing foster and adoptive parents, and an even greater need for foster and adoptive parents seeking placement of adolescents and teens, special needs children, minorities and sibling groups.

AdoptionIn some cases it may be necessary for the agency to file for permanent custody of a child when reunification with biological family or a change of legal custody to kin is not possible. When permanent custody is granted to the agency the social service worker’s primary focus becomes preparing the child for the adoption process. Adoption preparation is tailored to the individual needs of each child. Matching a child with an approved adoptive family who can meet the child’s needs and working to successfully transition the child into the adoptive family are critical pieces to the adoption process.

Independent Living ServicesIndependent Living services are provided to youth between the ages of 16 to 21 who are in the custody of SCJFS. The Independent Living Specialists in conjunction with the assigned social services worker are responsible for assisting the youth with their journey from foster care to adulthood (emancipation). Services provided to these youth may include but are not limited to: life skills assessment and training, education, financial assistance and coordination of community services.

Once emancipated, youth may continue to be eligible for assistance from SCJFS on a voluntary basis.

Children Services 11

Human Services DivisionCash, Food, Medical Assistance & Child Care Assistance221 3rd Street S.E.Canton, OH 44702

Customer Service Call Center(330)451-8861 Customer Service e-mail:stark_csc@odjfs.state.oh.us

New Applications for Services(330)451-8500

Child Care(330)451-8155

Child Support Division122 Cleveland Ave. N.W.P.O. Box 21337Canton, OH 44701

Customer Service(330)451-8930Payment Informationhttp://jfs.ohio.gov/ocs

Children Services Division300 Market Ave. NorthCanton, OH 44702

Child Abuse/Neglect Report Line: (330)455-KIDS

Become a Foster/Adoptive Parent(330)451-8789E-mail: STARK_CS_INQUIRY@odjfs.state.oh.uswww.StarkAdoptFoster.com

SCJFS Administrative Offices221 3rd Street S.E.Canton, OH 44702 (330)452-4661www.StarkJFS.org

Children Services

Become a Foster/Adoptive ParentSCJFS believes that a positive and nurturing environment helps children grow to their full potential. SCJFS staff is dedicated to working closely with foster and adoptive parents to provide the best possible care to children. We offer a full range of support services to our foster and adoptive parents which include:• Monthly home visits and consultations to provide

support and guidance• 38 hours of pre-service training• Respite services• Assistance with school enrollment and medical

appointments if necessary• Monthly reimbursements

If you have specific questions about foster and adoptive parenting in Stark County, please call our foster/adoptive parent recruitment line at 330-451-8789 or e-mail us at STARK_CS_INQUIRY@odjfs.state.oh.us

General RequirementsYou may apply to be a licensed foster/adoptive parent through SCJFS if you:• Are at least 21 years of age• Are single or married, with no change in marital

status for at least one year• Are able to provide proof of sufficient income to

meet the needs of the household• Complete BCII, FBI, and Children Services

background checks with no prohibitive offences• Can provide a safe and healthy home for a child• Complete 38 hours of Pre-service training. Click

here to see a list of pre-service trainings available

View our Adoption Page at:

www.StarkAdoptFoster.com

STARK COUNTY

Job & Family S E R V I C E S

SCPUB 000Rev. 06/12