Click the publication title to get the documents listed below. 

REPORTS:

TANF: Failing America’s Poorest Children (PDF document)

There are currently 5.5 million U.S. children living in extreme poverty (less than 50 percent of the federal poverty level). These children live in desperate conditions of homelessness, unsafe housing, hunger and isolation. Their basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and transportation are not being met. Many families turn to the welfare system for help. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has evolved from a safety net designed to help children and their families to one which insures their deprivation. States have the flexibility to design the program to meet the needs of their unique situations, yet are setting policies and issuing benefits that they know will not meet the needs of these families. Meeting basic needs for our most needy citizens should be the first priority for TANF funds, not the last.   This report takes an in-depth look at TANF and our neediest families.

Social Security Disability Denials (PDF document)

Many people have lost their homes and some their lives while waiting to receive Social Security Disability benefits.  These people put their faith into a system that was supposed to help.  The system has failed them and could fail thousands more if immediate, effective changes are not made.  Athens County JFS takes a look at this issue. 

An In-depth look at the issues of poverty (PDF document)

This report is intended to create a picture of the variety of issues and challenges facing low-income citizens of our county.  While not exhaustive, it includes the major issues individuals and our community as a whole face regarding poverty.

Ohio’s Poorest Children:  Extremely Poor and Living with Their Grandparents (PDF document)

With the implementation of Welfare Reform, cash assistance caseloads have dropped dramatically as thousands of welfare recipients took jobs. While many of those former recipients remain in poverty, they have successfully left the welfare rolls and have improved financially as a result. But what about those who remain?

The most dramatic change has been the increase in “child only” cases. These are situations in which children are not living with their parents but rather with relative caretakers, usually grandparents. This is now the most common family situation for children receiving cash benefits.

Ohio must increase the cash assistance benefits to an adequate level. These 130,000 children live in families who comply with all of the strict rules of Welfare Reform, yet the benefits they receive are too low to meet basic human needs.

OTHER TYPES OF PUBLICATIONS:

2008-2009 Annual Report "Our annual report tells a story of rising demands and shrinking resources. Caseloads for financial and medical assistance are growing to reflect the general economic downturn. Cuts in services reflect the consequences of state budget reductions," Director Jack Frech.

ACJFS Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) Plan

The goal is to provide an assistance program to families while encouraging self-sufficiency and preventing dependency.  The program is designed to operate with as much flexibility as possible for the eligibility worker and the family needing assistance. The PRC assistance group must be TANF eligible.  This may include, but not limited to, having a child present in the home to qualify for PRC.