This program is also referred to as the federal "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" program. TANF is the title used in federal legislation and regulations. Ohio has adopted the title Ohio Works First (OWF) for its time-limited cash assistance program. Click here to read our OWF Fact Sheet.
The major goal of OWF is to help participants transition from welfare dependency toward personal responsibility, employment and self-sufficiency. OWF participants have specific requirements. Other supportive services, such as transportation, child care and PRC services are also available to the participant as needed.
At the time of application for assistance, the Family Services Eligibility Worker identifies the required participants and then refers them to the Family Services Social Program Coordinator (SPC) for assessment and assignment to the appropriate work activity. One tool that the SPC uses for assessment is the Self-Sufficiency Contract (SSC), which serves as a guide to assist families in designing personalized Self-Sufficiency Plans (SSP).
The self-sufficiency plan spells out what each participant needs to do and what Job & Family Services will do to help them reach identified goals. The participant is informed of their rights and responsibilities when they sign the contract and their plan. Failure to comply to the terms of the contract or plan without good cause may result in a sanction and loss of benefits.
Work activities are mandatory and require participation in order to receive time-limited cash assistance and/or Food Stamps.
There are Federal and State recognized work activities, each with limitations for the participant. The Federal Work Activities include: Employment, Work Experience Program (WEP), Subsidized Employment Program (SEP), Job Search and Job Readiness, Vocational Education (Postsecondary), Job Skills Training, Education (directly related to employment for someone without a high school diploma or GED) and Basic Education (ABLE).
The State Work Activities are referred to as Alternative or Developmental and are unique to each county's department of Job & Family Services. The activities often consist of parenting or life skills classes or counseling (drug/alcohol, mental health, rehabilitation). The hours of participation in a Federal or State work activity as well as who must participate vary according to the make up of the assistance group and what benefits they receive.
OWF is time limited - 36 months (lifetime limit) under Ohio law. Each county has developed hardship exemptions that would allow assistance groups to remain on OWF for a longer period of time. Athens County Department of Job and Family Services has a committee to review each case as the assistance group approaches the 36 month time limit. This committee makes the recommendation of which cases meet the hardship exemption.
Eligibility:The OWF program requires completing an "Application for Cash, Medical and Food Stamp Assistance" and a face-to-face interview with an caseworker. Face-to-face interviews are held at the initial application and every six months. There must be a child in need; or a woman without any other children must be in her sixth month of pregnancy. A child's home must be with a parent, specified relative, custodian or legal guardian. The OWF program does not have a resource limitation. In fact, resources, liquid or non-liquid, do not affect eligibility for OWF. Verification of age, citizenship, and identity must be completed before any individual, adult or child, is eligible to be included in the assistance group.
PRC - Emergency Assistance
FAMILY EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE
Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) Program
PRC is a group of emergency and short-term assistance programs to help families with dependent children while encouraging self-sufficiency. The need may be necessary for the health, safety and well being of the family, to prevent them from coming onto Ohio Works First, or to help gain or retain employment.
PRC applications are available at all agency locations.
Eligibility:
1. There must be a child or a pregnant woman present in the household to qualify for PRC. A child is defined as a minor under the age of eighteen years, or under age nineteen, if the child is still enrolled in high school. An assistance group for PRC is defined as those persons who reside together within a dwelling, regardless of their legal or familial relationship to each other. It may include the non-custodial parent, if they are cooperating with the Child Support Enforcement Agency.
2. All income received within the household is considered countable for PRC purposes. The only deduction from income will be for child support paid for a child outside the home. Eligibility will be determined by totaling ALL income to the household within the past 30 days. Verification of income is required. Gross income (before taxes) must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
3. The need should be emergent, unforeseeable and unavoidable. It is expected that the household's resources (cash on hand, savings accounts, etc) will be used prior to or in conjunction with PRC assistance. All available community resources must be explored and whenever possible, utilized first for the need.
If child care is necessary for a family while an adult member of the household works or attends approved training, ACDJFS can assist in payment of child care services. Families may choose their child care provider from a list of certified providers or have a friend or family member of their choice certified to care for their children.
All certified home providers are required to have criminal background checks, complete training (including child development, CPR, and first aid) and to maintain safe and healthy homes for the children in their care.
The Food Stamp program was designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well-being of individuals by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To be eligible, income must meet federal Guidelines. In Ohio, Food Stamps are issued by using the Ohio Direction Card, an electronic debit card.
Click here to read our Ohio Food Assistance Program Fact Sheet.
The Food Stamp program is based upon the "Thrifty Food Plan" by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The plan is based on the diet required to feed a family of four consisting on a man and woman age 20 through 50, a child 6-8, and a child 9-11. This amount is determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. The cost of this diet is the basis for allotments for all assistance groups regardless of their actual composition.
Eligibility: The Food Stamp program requires completing an "Application for Cash, Medical and Food Stamp Assistance" and a face-to-face interview with an caseworker. The maximum allowable resources for the applicant's assistance group (AG) shall not exceed $2000, except for AG's including a member age 60 or over, resources shall not exceed $3000. All income, including earned and unearned, must be verified prior to certification.
The following deductions can be used in the calculation of the Food Stamp allotment: rent/mortgage payment, utility costs, medical expenses, dependent care expenses, and legally obligated child support paid to a non-household member. In order to allow these deductions, however, they must be verified prior to certification. Other mandatory verifications prior to certification include: social security for each member of the assistance group, residency, and identity of the person making the application.
Those persons with little or no income at the time of the application can receive benefits on an expedited (emergency) basis. If income is zero prior to or after completing a budget, the case shall be certified for benefits within 24 hours after application. The screening unit of ACDJFS reviews applications at the point of entry for this expedited service.
"In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). "USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."
USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program
Athens County Job & Family Services announces sponsorship of the USDA funded Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals are served at no separate charge to all eligible participants enrolled for care with our Certified Child Care Providers; 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 complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice & TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Summer Food Programs Click here for a list of community food programs for the summer of 2009 in Athens County.
Athens County Emergency Food Line
Athens County Emergency Food Line
for food pantry services is accessed
through Job & Family Services at:
1-800-338-4484.
A household is eligible to receive an emergency food box
once every sixty (60) days.
The Food Line is responsible for screening telephone requests,
determining eligibility, maintaining records and directing those in need
to a distribution site.
The Work Experience Program (WEP)
Anyone receiving Ohio Works First (OWF) cash benefits and/or Food Stamps is required to participate in various work programs to help prepare them for future employment.
The Work Experience Program (WEP) provides an opportunity for individuals receiving Ohio Works First or Food Stamp benefits to acquire valuable training, skill development, work experience and possible job placement. WEP places participants in job settings with employers in the community. Work site sponsors can be government or educational organizations, nonprofit or for-profit companies.
Participants are assigned to the site for a set number of hours per month, depending on their type of assistance. They are not paid wages, but receive public assistance during the time of their work experience.
The work site's role is to provide supervision to promote good work habits. Each month, the site reports the hours completed and comments on work behavior.
Eligibility: Participants are assigned to WEP by their Family Services SPC.
Ohio Works First (OWF):
