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Athens County Child Support Enforcement Agency

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Our Mission

As the employees of the Athens County Department of Job & Family Services, we have been charged with the most serious and important responsibility in government, that of helping our fellow citizens who experience the despair of poverty, hunger, homelessness, and ill health. We believe that our programs represent the conscience of society and that our strength lies in seeking a decent life for all.

Forms

Need a form?  Many of our applications and other publications are available HERE

2009 Poverty Guidelines

•  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issues poverty guidelines each year in the Federal Register.

The guidelines (or percentage multiples of the guidelines — for instance, 125% or 185%) are used in determining eligibility for programs and services.


Job & Family Services

is an official

Voter Registration site.

2010 Athens County Voter Guide

Ohio Voter Registration form

Absentee Voter form

Voter registration information and instructions

For further information, contact:

Athens County Board of Elections 

15 S. Court St., #130
Athens, OH 45701
Phone (740) 592-3201

OR

Ohio Secretary of State

1-877-767-6446

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Important JFS News Item

(Sept. 2, 2010 New Web site for unemployed workersThe Ohio Department of Job and Family Services recently created a new Web site for the state’s unemployed workers: www.OhioHereToHelp.com. Ohio Here to Help can quickly connect visitors to a wide range of information and resources – from both public and private entities – that can help them search for a job, find education and training opportunities, and learn about other supports that can help them get through this difficult time. The new site also provides direct links to job openings and training opportunities. It also provides information on such topics as money, food assistance, health care, housing, transportation, child care, veterans’ services, legal services, clothing assistance and youth employment.

(May 28, 2010) New survey shows state residents are very concerned about poverty An Ohio University class surveyed voters across the state earlier this year about their opinions on poverty and found that Ohioans want state leaders do more to help the poor. At the same time, though, Ohio residents differ in their opinions on how best to help the poor, according to the survey results. The survey asked Ohio residents about a wide range of issues related to poverty . Click here to read the news release about the survey. Click here to read the survey.

(May 7, 2010 ) Watch out for scams related to your benefits cards Job and Family Services offices across Ohio have been receiving questions from clients about phone text messages they have been receiving about their Ohio Direction Card (EBT) and the Ohio EPPICard (EPC) accounts. These text messages are scams intended to obtain personal and/or card information.  The current message states "Customer Issue, EPPI Card frozen, please call (different numbers are displayed).” If you receive one of these inquires, please DO NOT RESPOND. No official messages about these cards are being sent out by text message, and the state would not contact you and then ask for your cardholder information in this way.  Anyone who feels his or her personal information has been compromised by the scam should call The Ohio Direction Card customer service number at 866-386-3071, or  the Ohio EPPICard customer service number at 866-320-8822. All clients are also reminded that they can monitor their account activity by setting up an online account. The address for the Web site used to set up the accounts is located on the backs of the cards.

(Feb. 24, 2010) Free public defense is no longer free in Ohio. All Ohio residents now have to pay $25 when they apply for a public defender. This tax on poor people is enforced unevenly around the state, puts judges and public defenders in awkward positions, and places a fee on a service that is supposed to be provided for free to the indigent. The fee has numerous other problems with it and needs to be eliminated. Click here to read a report from Athens County Job and Family Services on this new fee.

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

(Nov. 3, 2009) Annual Report shows increase in demand for services "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...Unfortunately, the bottom line is that life for our poorest citizens has gotten worse," 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. Shockingly, over the last 11 years, only three states have increased their cash assistance funding to keep up with cost of living increases, and 23 states have not increased their cash assistance funding levels at all. Click here to read the report.

(July 2, 2009) Stories of our clients and the challenges they face. Click here to read about some of the obstacles are clients are facing and learn about how they are overcoming these challenges. Margaret's family does not have health insurance and cannot buy the insurance because of a pre-existing condition, Reta and Jerald are raising their grandchildren and one great-grandchild while dealing with health problems, and Jill is a single mother who is unable to work because of her own serious health problems. Several other stories and videos of our clients are also posted here.

(April 3, 2009) New hours for Job and Family Services offices Athens County Job and Family Services is now open from 8-5 pm. Monday through Friday. The only exception is The Work Station, which is staying open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, click here.

(April 2, 2009) How the Economic Recovery Payments and the Making Work Pay Tax Credits can help you For information on the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, which provides tax refunds of up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for married couples, click here. This page also has information about other tax credits approved in the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 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, click here. For additional information on these new programs, click here for the IRS Web site.

(07/25/08)  ALERT Do NOT pay to file for extended unemployment benefits

Unemployment compensation customers should NOT pay to file for extended unemployment benefits.  Any contact with an entity charging a fee is not affiliated with the State of Ohio. 

It has been discovered that some claimants have mistakenly accessed alternate web sites and/or toll-free numbers to file for extended unemployment benefits.  

Do not give out credit card information to file for unemployment benefits.

(07/23/08)  Focus on the Basics

We must focus on the basics with a greater priority on financial resources for the poorest of the poor. The failure f government to ensure all families and individuals have sufficient income to meet their basic needs has caused holes in the safety net to steadily worsen.  We must provide sufficient benefits through our safety net programs to meet all basic needs for these families. This is already a crisis for the people affected by these issues.

We call upon our state and federal elected representatives to not turn away from these serious problems.  We must take immediate action!  

Get the position paper with recommendations (PDF document) 

Officially endorsed by 25 agencies in seven counties of SE Ohio!

 

Go to the "Don't Turn Away, Ohio" blog

 

Family & Adult Services

Complete alphabetical list of agency services.

Or select services by type below:

Health & Medical Services
  • Health and medical services may be available to people of all ages. Program eligibility varies based on the specific services.

  • Medicaid Managed Care Selection Services Center (SSC)
    The Selection Services Center will provide you with factual and unbiased information regarding available Ohio Medicaid managed care plans (MCPs) and help you select the Managed Care Plan that will best meet your needs. Their website, www.ohiossc.com contains information that will help you make your choice;
    or call 1-800-605-3040 to speak with a Selection Services counselor.
  • Medicaid Providers Link to the providers' section of the Ohio Medicaid website.  The Provider Call Center can be reached at 1-800-686-1516. Representatives are available to answer questions on topics such as:  Consumer Eligibility Verification, Billing, Payments and Claim Status.
Administration

Find out about our business operations

including employment with our agency, our annual report, other publications and media/community relations.

Reports compliled by our agency

Check out our BLOG! Comments welcome!

Customer Service

For help with a specific case or general information regarding assistance, call our HELP DESK: 

(740) 797-2523 or (800) 762-3775

Other customer service topics:

Fast & Free Athens County Tax Assistance Program

The Fast & Free Tax Assistance program provides free on-line tax preparation assistance utilizing IRS-certified volunteers to electronically file tax returns during tax filing season.  Services are available to Athens County residents filing basic returns.   Returns in 7-10 business days for FREE!


To become a certified tax preparer with the Athens County Fast & Free Tax Assistance Center, pass the basic, intermediate and advance courses that can be found at www.irs.gov/app/vita or call 740-797-2523 to obtain a testing booklet.

Child Support


Information for custodial and

non-custodial parents, caretakers and employers.

Click the icon to go to the Athens County Child Support website.

Work Station

FREE comprehensive employment-related services, training, education and
support systems

for employers,

job seekers

and the community.

Click the One-Stop icon to go to The Work Station's website.

Office hours for all four of our offices are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Work Station is the only exception, as it remains open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

IRis

Athens County IRis (Information & Referral interactive system).

To view the Athens County resource directory click HERE.

Contact Us

Mail:
184 N. Lancaster Street
Athens, Ohio 45701

Email:
jfs@athenscountygovernment.com

Phone: (740) 797-2523
Toll-free: 800-762-3775
TTY: (740) 797-2817

Emergency FOOD LINE:
1-800-338-4484

Directions:
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Information Disclaimer

The information provided on this site is intended to be general summary information.  It is considered public information and may be distributed or copied freely unless identified as being

subject to copyright protection.

It is not intended to take the place

of written laws or regulations.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

This site may contain links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations.

These links are provided for the information and convenience of our visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of any views expressed

on these outside websites.


Non Discrimination

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.


Public Records Notice

This office acknowledges that it maintains many records that are used in the administration and operation of this office. The records maintained by this public office and the ability to access them are a means to provide trust between the public and this office. This public office maintains its records in a manner that allows the general public prompt inspection of this office's public records and copies of these records within a reasonable amount of time during its regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Work Station remains open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

ACJFS Public Record Policy

Equal Opportunity/Civil Rights
Click Here for more information.
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