(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.

(June 17, 2009) Free pool parties for area residents this summer The 2009 Family Pool parties will be held at the Nelsonville City Pool from 8-10 p.m. on June 24 and July 10, 15, 22, and 31. All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The parties, which are sponsored by Athens County Job and Family Services and the Nelsonville Family Center, are great fun and are open to everyone in the Athens County community. For more information, click here.

(May 22, 2009) Director testifies on the need for more funding for people living in poverty, proposal to eliminate school fees 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. He also testified about the need to restore the human services funding that has been cut in the state budget proposals, and discussed the need to eliminate school fees. Click here to read the testimony.

(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.

(March 27, 2009) New videos tell the stories of our clients and our services We are posting videos of our clients telling their stories, as well as videos about the services we offer, the need for more funding for cash assistance and food assistance programs, and the realities about who is receiving assistance, all of the requirements our clients have to meet and how the programs can help them. Click here to read articles about our clients and find links for videos, or click here for our blog, which has additional videos and other information about poverty-related issues.

(March 17, 2009) Director testifies on the need for more cash assistance, food assistance program funding for Ohio families Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech testified before the Ohio House of Representatives' Finance and Appropriations Committee's Human Services Subcommitee on Tuesday, March 17. To read a copy of the testimony, which included a call for more funding for families through both the Ohio Works First and Food Assistance programs, as well as a call to restore Department of Job and Family Services funding that is cut in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2010, click here.

(10-16-08) 2008 Annual Report Released

"Times are hard for many people in Athens County. Perhaps the hardest I have seen in the past thirty years. As always, the citizens of the county are willing to pull together to help our less fortunate neighbors. The services provided through our agency are one way in which we share with others. This report details the many services we provided during the past year."  Jack Frech, Director

Click here to view the report.

(07/25/08)  Ohio's Poorest Children Report (Updated) Report updated with the most current data & statistics.  Click here for the updated report.With the implementation of Welfare Reform over ten years ago, cash assistance caseloads dropped dramatically. But what about those who remain?  The most dramatic change has been the increase in “child only” cases. The majority of these children are not living with their parents, but with relative caretakers, usually grandparents.  The 130,000 children on OWF receive benefits that are too low to meet basic human needs. 

(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