(July 7, 2010) The Athens County Subsidized Summer Youth Employment Program is providing jobs and valuable learning opportunities for 138 Athens County residents between the ages of 14 and 24. Participants are working in a wide range of businesses and organizations all across Athens County. Click here to read more about the program.

(June 15, 2010) The Athens Farmers Market leads all farmers markets in Ohio in the number of customers it serves who are receiving Food Assistance Program benefits. And this summer, the Athens Farmers Market is offering extra incentives to customers who use their Food Assistance benefits to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. Click here to read more about how the Athens Farmers Market has made it easy for area residents to use their Food Assistance benefits to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

(June 14, 2010) The Athens County Adult Basic Literacy and Education (ABLE) program at The Work Station held its annual GED graduation ceremony on Friday, June 4. Click here to read about a few of the graduates and to see photos from the ceremony.

(June 8, 2010) All local employers are invited to an Employer Awareness Workshop that will be held at The Work Station on Thursday, June 24 from 1-3 p.m., and focus on the subject of hiring ex-offenders. Click here to read more about the event.

(June 2, 2010) The annual GED graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 4, and The Work Station will be closed on Friday, June 4. Click here to read more about the graduation ceremony

(May 25, 2010) A new summer employment program is now taking applications from Athens County residents between the ages of 14-24 who meet certain income guidelines. Click here to read more about the new program.

(May 25, 2010) An Ohio University class surveyed Ohio voters about their opinions on poverty-related issues recently and found some very interesting results. Representatives from the class, as well as representatives from Athens County Job and Family Services, will discuss the survey results at a Friday, May 28 press conference held at noon in Ohio University's Lasher Hall. Click here to read more about the survey and the press conference.

(May 25, 2010) The state of Ohio is encouraging all eligible families to sign up for Medicaid and has made it easier for families to enroll in the health care program more quickly. Click here to read about the changes to the Medicaid program.

(May 20, 2010) Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech was honored by the UCM: Center for Spiritual Growth and Social Justice recently. Click here to read more about Frech and the other winners of the 2010 UCM Social Justice Awards.

(April 9, 2010) Senior citizens who meet certain income requirements can now apply for coupons worth up to $50 to be used at the Athens Farmers Market. Click here to read more about the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and to find out how to apply.

(April 7, 2010) Many Athens County residents who pick up their mail at their local post office and do not have home delivered mail have not received their U.S. Census forms yet, and many of the college students living in Athens County also have not received their Census forms yet. Click here to read more about when all Athens County residents will receive their Census forms and where area residents can go to pick up a Census form.

(March 2, 2010) Job Fair to be held in Athens in April. The sixth annual One-Stop Job. Career and Information Fair will be held in Athens on Wednesday, April 21. The public is invited, and local businesses and organizations that would like to have a booth at the event still have time to sign up. Click here to read more about the Job Fair.

(Jan. 29, 2010) Time Warner Cable, Inc., and the Athens A.M. Rotary Club both made donations to the ABLE program recently to promote adult literacy in Athens County. Click here to read more about the donations and the ABLE program.

(Dec. 3, 2009) A southeast Ohio resident recently wrote on her blog about her experiences with The Work Station. Click here to read what she had to say.

(Dec. 2 , 2009) A large crowd of veterans turned out for a recent Job Fair in Athens. Click here to read more about the event, and to read about the economic challenges facing a few of the individuals at the Job Fair.

(Nov. 24, 2009) The Columbus Dispatch recently published an outstanding series of articles looking at how state budget cuts are affecting Ohio famiiles living in poverty. Click here for the links to the articles.

(Nov. 18, 2009) The Athens County Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center is looking for volunteers to help area residents e-file their tax returns. Volunteers are needed to greet customers, screen callers and prepare basic federal, state and school district tax returns. Click here to read the news release about the volunteer program. Click here to learn more about the Athens County Fast And Free Tax Assistance Center.

(Nov. 10, 2009) House Bill 308 is a responsible way to help poor families in Ohio. Director Jack Frech wrote an editorial piece about how House Bill 308 would help poor families in Ohio, and why state leaders need to do more to help families in need. Click here to read Frech's editorial column.

(Nov. 3, 2009) Annual Report details how demand for assistance is increasing in Athens County. "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. Click here to read the 2008-2009 Annual Report.

(Oct. 21, 2009) Report shows how America is failing to take care of poor children and families. The newly updated report, “TANF: Failing America’s Poorest Children,” details how cash assistance and food programs are underfunded and do not get families up to even half of the federal poverty level. Click here to read the news release about the report. Click here to read the report.

(Sept. 15, 2009) The Recovery Conservation Corps program has had a positive impact on Athens County, as well as on the nearly 40 young men and women who took part in the program this summer. Click here to read more about the program.

(Aug. 19, 2009) All Athens County Job and Family Services offices will be closed on Friday, Aug. 21 for a staff training day. Click here to read the news release about the offices being closed.

(July 31, 2009) Children who receive free lunches at Ohio's public schools no longer have to pay general school fees. The new state budget waived the general fees for these children. This is a very positive first step, and Athens County Job and Family Services would like to ultimately see all fees waived for all children at public schools in Ohio. Click here to read more about the public school fees.

(July 29, 2009) The Ohio Highway Guy will be at The Work Station on Friday, July 31, to talk to area residents about apprenticeships on highway construction crews. This program can lead to permanent work in areas such as heavy equipment operation and general construction labor. Click here to read more about the Friday event.

(June 17, 2009) More than 80 students graduated from the GED program at The Work Station during the 2008-2009 academic year. A special ceremony was held recently for this year's GED graduates, and the event was highlighted by the inspiring story of new graduate Gilbert Norris. Click here to read about the ceremony, learn what Norris and several of the other graduates had to say about earning their degrees, and see photos of the event.

(June 11,2009) The Hampton Inn of Athens recently donated between 50 and 60 televisions to local charitable organizations to give to area residents in need. Click here to read about how the program helped Athens County residents.

(June 11, 2009) Athens County Job and Family Services sent out a Letter to the Editor to local newspapers today in order to clarify a few points about the new Recovery Conservation Corps Initiative. Click here to read the letter.

(June 2, 2009) The federal government's economic stimulus package is funding the new Recovery Conservation Corps Initiative in Athens County. The program will create 40 work experience positions in public parks in Athens County and allow the participants to earn college credits over the summer. For more information on the Recovery Conservation Corps Initiative, click here.

(June 1, 2009) The Computer Connections program distributed more than 2,700 free computers to households in Athens County over the last eight years and proved to be very successful. The program, which also provided free Internet service and computer training, had to be eliminated earlier this year because of state budget cuts. Click here to read about the program.

(June 1, 2009) The new Career Club program has been formed at The Work Station to help area residents with their job searches. Click here to read about the Career Club.

(May 28, 2009) Representatives from several local government organizations and community groups met on Wednesday, May 27 to hold an initial planning meeting for the 2010 Census count in Athens County. It is vitally important to have an accurate count, and all Athens County residents are strongly encouraged to fill out their forms and be part of the Census in 2010. Click here to read more about the meeting and the importance of the Census count for Athens County.

(May 22, 2009) Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech testified before an Ohio Senate subcommittee on Wednesday, May 20 about the need to increase Ohio Works First funding by $100 per family, restore human services funding that has been cut in current state budget proposals and eliminate school fees in Ohio. Click here to read the testimony.

(April 24, 2009) A Job Fair, sponsored in part by The Work Station, will be held at the Athens Community Center on Wednesday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Click here to read more about the event.

(April 10, 2009) Senior citizens in Athens County will be able to apply for coupons for $50 worth of free fruits, vegetables and herbs at the Athens Farmer's Market beginning on April 20. Click here to read more about the program.

(April 1, 2009) New information posted about the Making Work Pay Tax Credit and how it can help individuals and married couples who are working. Click here for information on this, as well as information on other new tax credits that are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Click here for information on the Economic Recovery Payment checks that will be sent to those who receive Social Security, SSI, disabled veterans benefits or railroad retiree benefits. For additional information on these new programs, click here for the IRS Web site.

(March 26, 2009) More stories of our clients are posted on our Website and video stories about living on public assistance are posted on Youtube. Click here to read some of the articles and watch the videos. For additional videos and articles, log onto our blog by clicking here.

(March 23, 2009) Athens County Job and Family Services is asking Ohio legislators to eliminate school fees in order to help Ohio families. Director Jack Frech had a letter about this issue published in The Columbus Dispatch on March 17. Click here to read the letter.

(March 17, 2009) Director Jack Frech testified before an Ohio House of Representatives subcommittee on March 17 about the need for more funding for cash assistance, food assistance and other programs to help people in need. To read a copy of the testimony, click here.

(March 23, 2009) New office hours for all four Athens County Job and Family Services offices in response to budget cuts. Read the press release here.

(March 3, 2009) Budget cuts cause additional layoffs, impact services. Read the press release here.

(February 25, 2009) Budget cuts force layoffs, elimination of two programs. Read the press release here.

(10-09-08) Child and Adult Care Food Program: Athens County Job & Family Services announces sponsorship of the US Department of Agriculture funded Child and Adult Care Food Program.

• Meals are served at no separate charge to all eligible participants enrolled for care and will be provided without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability.
• The goal of the program is to improve the diets of young children and increase the opportunity for children to eat a variety of nutritious foods.
• To file a discrimination complaint, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Bldg, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC, 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Take a look at our most recent annual report, which covers the2007-2008 fiscal year.