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We want you to know more about the people we serve, and the challenges they are overcoming in their lives. Our clients are young and old, and they come from a wide range of backgrounds. The one thing they all have in commmon is that they all have certain obstacles ahead of them, and they are trying to overcome them. We will keep adding stories about our clients throughout the next year, in an attempt to let others better understand the struggles they face.
Here is a link to brief versions of several of the stories. This document was submitted as part of testimony given to an Ohio House of Representatives subcommittee on March 17.
Julie's story
Click here to read about Julie, an Athens County woman who worked for the same company for the last 15 years and recently lost her job. It was frustrating to lose a job she loved, and things looked even worse for Julie when she found she would have to wait at least two weeks before she could talk with anyone at Athens County Job and Family Services about her application for the Food Assistance Program and other types of assistance. She also has to wait for unemployment assistance and other safety net programs help her, and it is nearly impossible now for her to pay her bills and buy groceries for her children.
Click here to read about Reta and Jerald, two senior citizens who are spending their golden years raising their grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They love having the children with them and doing whatever they can to help them, but Reta and Jerald both suffer from serious health problems that make it very diffuclt to provide for the children as they would like.
Margaret's fight for health insurance for her family
Click here to read about Margaret and her family. Because the family does not have health insurance, Margaret and her husband don't go to health care facilities as often as they should and their daughter, who has Down Syndrome, has not been able to receive the therapy programs that have been recommended for her. Margaret is speaking out in Ohio and across the country to encourage government leaders to make it easier for uninsured families to receive insurance and the health care they need.
Jill's story
Click here to read about Jill, a single mother suffering from fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain in the muscles and soft tissues throughout the body. Because of the pain, Jill is unable to work and needs help from her neighbors with tasks around the house. With the public assistance she receives, she lives on about $4,000 per year. She describes her situation as living "disconnect notice to disconnect notice," but she keeps doing what she can to care for her children and deal with her pain and her lack of any financial stability.
TJ's story
Click here to read about TJ's amazing story. The Athens County resident has overcome a very rare and dangerous medical condition and achieved a great deal. He receives a lot of support from his family and friends, but he also brightens the days of everyone he is around. His family receives Medicaid and is thankful for the assistance, but his mother points out several areas that could be improved to help clients.
Catherine's story
Click here to read about Catherine, a single mother who is unable to work because of back problems. She lives on a very limited income and is unable to pay all of her bills each month. She also has not been able to receive the medical care she needs for her back, and she is in a lot of pain. She does whatever she can for her children, though, and is trying to improve her life.
Video featuring clients and our director
Click here to watch a video discussing several of the programs we offer. The video looks at a few myths about the programs, explains how they help people, and looks at why funding for many of the programs needs to be increased. The video features Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech and seveal county residents.
Lyda's story
Click here to read about Lyda, a grandparent raising her grandson. The number of grandparents raising their grandchildren is increasing, and Lyda discusses the problems these grandparents face.
Click here to watch a video of Lyda's story
Click here to read about Ashley, an 18-year-old single mother who is earning her GED and planning for college in the fall.
Click here to watch a video of Ashley's story
Lisa's story
Click here to read about Lisa, a single mother doing everything she can to support her children and get off of public assistance. Raising three children has been tough on her in numerous ways, and she has already overcome many obstacles and challenges.
Click here to read about Charlee, a single mother struggling to get by. Charleee was working two jobs, paying all of her bills and making a life for herself and her son, but after she was severely injured in a car accident and was unable to work for several months, most of her finances were wiped out and many of the things she had struggled so hard for were taken away from her.
Leslie's story
Click here to read about Leslie, a single mother who has earned her college degree and is working, raising her daughter and trying to make a difference in the community.
Click here to watch a video of Leslie's story