workplus
Helping People Turn the Corner on Life’s Challenges director’s letter
i
2010 Board of Clark County Commissioners Mr. Roger D. Tackett, President Mr. David Hartley Mr. John Detrick Mr. W. Darrell Howard, County Administrator Mr. Nathan Kennedy, Assistant County Administrator 2010 Job and Family Services Planning Council Mr. Ted McClenen, Chair Mr. Charlie Bush, Vice Chair Ms. Marilyn Demma Ms. Pamela Greene Rev. Eli Williams Mr. Charles Patterson Mr. Robert Suver Ms. Marlo Fox Ms. Wynette Carter-Smith 2010 Clark County WorkPlus Policy Board Mr. Robert Warren, Chair Mr. Dale Briggs, Vice Chair Mr. Jason Barlow Ms. Mindi Bonifay Mr. Charlie Bush Hon. Warren Copeland Ms. Wendy Ford Mr. Rodney Hickman Mr. Robin Opp Mr. Steve Eisentrager Mr. Brad Moffitt Dr. Karen Rafinski Ms. Sheila Rice Mr. Bill Robinson Mr. Bob Schmittauer
would like to acknowledge and give appreciation to the staff of this agency. Without their experience, insight, adaptability and cooperation, getting through 2010 would have been much more painful and we would not be as well positioned for the future. While staff has been reduced by 33 percent from only a couple of years ago, the volume of work they must deal with has grown in all areas—some over 60 percent. One of every four residents are engaged in our programs and services. One-third of those seeking assistance are new to the system, and 75 percent of those we serve are children, seniors or disabled individuals. The way business is conducted has been modified. These modifications have come from dropping outdated requirements and approaches and utilizing all aspects of the technological tools we have available. This has resulted in fewer physical office visits, new online capabilities, shorter office visits and more efficient processing of information. Collaboration across our in-house programming as well as across the community and with other counties has paid dividends by getting more done with fewer ronsectetur e 2010 marked another important milestone for Job & Family Services of Clark County, specifically the Family & Children Services division. Last November, the Children Services Property Tax Levy went before county voters. The levy (dating back to the 1
A
ccording to the National Bureau of Eeconomic research (nber), the recession that began in December 2007 officially ended in June 2009. However, Clark County like many counties throughout Ohio, continued to feel the pressure in 2010. The average unemployment rate for Clark County and Springfield remained in the double digits. Clark County reported a 10.4% unemployment rate compared to 10.2% in 2009, while Springfield hovered around 10.9% compared to 10.6% in 2009. Despite high unemployment rates and unprecedented difficult times, there were many successes attributed to the WorkPlus One-Stop Center. A record number of adult and dislocated workers were served by the WorkPlus staff and partners in 2010. There were 18,179 registered job seekers; 36,881 total visits and 42,704 services accessed. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) ran from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, with 56 enrolled in the WIA Adult Education/Training program, 153 enrolled in the WIA Dislocated Worker program and 112 students enrolled in the WIA Youth program. Thirty-two people benefited from On the Job Training (OJT) during 2010. Participating OJT industries included: customer service, sales, logistics and distribution, manufacturing and health care.
living at or near the poverty level. Recent trends continued in 2010 with an increasing number of families receiving cash assistance through Ohio Works First (OWF), and families and individuals receiving food assistance benefits and health care through Medicaid.
helping make life better throughout
Key facts for 2010: • Benefits of more than $268 million were issued for Clark County residents in the form of cash, food assistance and medical payments. • By the end of 2010, more than 32,000 Clark County residents were receiving health care coverage through Medicaid. • In 2010, the number of county residents receiving food assistance benefits reached an all-time high—over 27,000 people. • Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) benefits of more than $244,000 were issued to just over 550 families to meet urgent needs such as rent and utilities, which if left unattended, could result in the family requiring public assistance. • In 2010, families received child care services that totaled $5,213,510.
Thank you Clark County citizens for your continuing support. Name
benefits plus
T
he public assistance programs and supportive
services provided by job & family services of clark county continue to be an integral part of the lives of county residents
family & children services
F
irst and foremost, Family & Children Services of Clark county (fcscc) would like to thank the Clark County community for passing the
clark county
Children Services replacement levy last November. The levy support will ensure continuation of services that support and maintain safety and permanency for all Clark County children. FCSCC has been part of several local and statewide initiatives that promote engaging with families differently to achieve better outcomes for children. FCSCC was an initial pilot county for Differential Response (DR), formerly referred to as Alternative Response. Clark County is currently leading a six-county program evaluation project on the short and long-term benefits of DR. Another significant initiative has been the Kinship Navigator Program. Clark is one of seven Ohio counties participating in this program that provides information, referral, follow-up and supportive services to relative caregivers that assist in keeping children with extended family, thus diverting them from more costly and less effective out-ofhome placement. In 2010, FCSCC provided kinship services to 53 children. In total, FCSCC had 1,102 active cases in 2010 with only 187 children served in out-of-home placements.
child suport During 2010, Child Support Services of Clark County (csscc) completed the first full year of implementing a new approach to case management. with staff reductions and limited resources, the division was challenged with finding new ways to meet the needs of customers. Through a process referred to as “case stratification,” cases were reorganized based upon the non-custodial parent having one case or multiple cases. This permits CSSCC to focus on cases in a more holistic manner and group similar cases together. During 2010, changes in the caseload makeup were seen that support this approach as having a positive impact. The number of closed cases in December rose to 26,733 from the January total of 24,614. Not only did the active cases drop, but cases no longer needing services increased. Similar positive trends were also seen in the number of cases only owing past due support. These factors, in addition to an increased review of orders, resulted in a $1 million decrease in the amount of child support owed.
workplus
Helping People Turn the Corner on Life’s Challenges director’s letter
i
2010 Board of Clark County Commissioners Mr. Roger D. Tackett, President Mr. David Hartley Mr. John Detrick Mr. W. Darrell Howard, County Administrator Mr. Nathan Kennedy, Assistant County Administrator 2010 Job and Family Services Planning Council Mr. Ted McClenen, Chair Mr. Charlie Bush, Vice Chair Ms. Marilyn Demma Ms. Pamela Greene Rev. Eli Williams Mr. Charles Patterson Mr. Robert Suver Ms. Marlo Fox Ms. Wynette Carter-Smith 2010 Clark County WorkPlus Policy Board Mr. Robert Warren, Chair Mr. Dale Briggs, Vice Chair Mr. Jason Barlow Ms. Mindi Bonifay Mr. Charlie Bush Hon. Warren Copeland Ms. Wendy Ford Mr. Rodney Hickman Mr. Robin Opp Mr. Steve Eisentrager Mr. Brad Moffitt Dr. Karen Rafinski Ms. Sheila Rice Mr. Bill Robinson Mr. Bob Schmittauer
would like to acknowledge and give appreciation to the staff of this agency. Without their experience, insight, adaptability and cooperation, getting through 2010 would have been much more painful and we would not be as well positioned for the future. While staff has been reduced by 33 percent from only a couple of years ago, the volume of work they must deal with has grown in all areas—some over 60 percent. One of every four residents are engaged in our programs and services. One-third of those seeking assistance are new to the system, and 75 percent of those we serve are children, seniors or disabled individuals. The way business is conducted has been modified. These modifications have come from dropping outdated requirements and approaches and utilizing all aspects of the technological tools we have available. This has resulted in fewer physical office visits, new online capabilities, shorter office visits and more efficient processing of information. Collaboration across our in-house programming as well as across the community and with other counties has paid dividends by getting more done with fewer ronsectetur e 2010 marked another important milestone for Job & Family Services of Clark County, specifically the Family & Children Services division. Last November, the Children Services Property Tax Levy went before county voters. The levy (dating back to the 1
A
ccording to the National Bureau of Eeconomic research (nber), the recession that began in December 2007 officially ended in June 2009. However, Clark County like many counties throughout Ohio, continued to feel the pressure in 2010. The average unemployment rate for Clark County and Springfield remained in the double digits. Clark County reported a 10.4% unemployment rate compared to 10.2% in 2009, while Springfield hovered around 10.9% compared to 10.6% in 2009. Despite high unemployment rates and unprecedented difficult times, there were many successes attributed to the WorkPlus One-Stop Center. A record number of adult and dislocated workers were served by the WorkPlus staff and partners in 2010. There were 18,179 registered job seekers; 36,881 total visits and 42,704 services accessed. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) ran from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, with 56 enrolled in the WIA Adult Education/Training program, 153 enrolled in the WIA Dislocated Worker program and 112 students enrolled in the WIA Youth program. Thirty-two people benefited from On the Job Training (OJT) during 2010. Participating OJT industries included: customer service, sales, logistics and distribution, manufacturing and health care.
living at or near the poverty level. Recent trends continued in 2010 with an increasing number of families receiving cash assistance through Ohio Works First (OWF), and families and individuals receiving food assistance benefits and health care through Medicaid.
helping make life better throughout
Key facts for 2010: • Benefits of more than $268 million were issued for Clark County residents in the form of cash, food assistance and medical payments. • By the end of 2010, more than 32,000 Clark County residents were receiving health care coverage through Medicaid. • In 2010, the number of county residents receiving food assistance benefits reached an all-time high—over 27,000 people. • Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) benefits of more than $244,000 were issued to just over 550 families to meet urgent needs such as rent and utilities, which if left unattended, could result in the family requiring public assistance. • In 2010, families received child care services that totaled $5,213,510.
Thank you Clark County citizens for your continuing support. Name
benefits plus
T
he public assistance programs and supportive
services provided by job & family services of clark county continue to be an integral part of the lives of county residents
family & children services
F
irst and foremost, Family & Children Services of Clark county (fcscc) would like to thank the Clark County community for passing the
clark county
Children Services replacement levy last November. The levy support will ensure continuation of services that support and maintain safety and permanency for all Clark County children. FCSCC has been part of several local and statewide initiatives that promote engaging with families differently to achieve better outcomes for children. FCSCC was an initial pilot county for Differential Response (DR), formerly referred to as Alternative Response. Clark County is currently leading a six-county program evaluation project on the short and long-term benefits of DR. Another significant initiative has been the Kinship Navigator Program. Clark is one of seven Ohio counties participating in this program that provides information, referral, follow-up and supportive services to relative caregivers that assist in keeping children with extended family, thus diverting them from more costly and less effective out-ofhome placement. In 2010, FCSCC provided kinship services to 53 children. In total, FCSCC had 1,102 active cases in 2010 with only 187 children served in out-of-home placements.
child suport During 2010, Child Support Services of Clark County (csscc) completed the first full year of implementing a new approach to case management. with staff reductions and limited resources, the division was challenged with finding new ways to meet the needs of customers. Through a process referred to as “case stratification,” cases were reorganized based upon the non-custodial parent having one case or multiple cases. This permits CSSCC to focus on cases in a more holistic manner and group similar cases together. During 2010, changes in the caseload makeup were seen that support this approach as having a positive impact. The number of closed cases in December rose to 26,733 from the January total of 24,614. Not only did the active cases drop, but cases no longer needing services increased. Similar positive trends were also seen in the number of cases only owing past due support. These factors, in addition to an increased review of orders, resulted in a $1 million decrease in the amount of child support owed.