U.S. Census count will be very important for Athens County

As part of our effort to promote the 2010 U.S. Census Count in southeastern Ohio, Athens County Job and Family Services set up booths at the Athens County Fair and Nelsonville's Parade of the Hills in August. At the booths, we handed out informational materials on the Census, let area residents see samples of the very short Census forms they will be asked to fill out next year, and raffled off two "Athens County Come To Your Census" cornhole sets. We also registered people to vote and provided information on the numerous programs that Athens County Job and Family Services offers for area residents.
Shown in the photos are (top right photo) Nelsonville resident Edith McGee with the cornhole set she won at the Parade of the Hills, and (bottom photo) Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech and Program Administrator Warren Haydon in the booth at the Athens County Fair.

For more information on how the U.S. Census count will affect the people of Athens County and why the Census count is so important, click here or scroll down and check out some of the other articles and videos on this blog.

Why the 2010 U.S. Census is so important

Here is a video produced by the U.S. Census Bureau about the 2010 Census, which will take place on April 1, 2010. It is vitally important to have everyone in Athens County and all across the country counted in the Census. Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on U.S. Census data.
The Census information is used as a guide for community planning efforts such as where to build new roads, hospitals and schools. It is also used for funding programs such as emergency food shelters, public transportation, senior citizens programs, social service programs and planning for development.
The Census figures also determine how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, city councils and voting districts.

Clients face numerous challenges

Many of our clients face a wide range of obstacles that make life very difficult. Reta and Jerald, for example, are a Nelsonville couple raising grandchildren and one great-grandchild while dealing with health problems. Jill is a single mother who is unable to work anymore because of her own health problems. Ashley is an 18-year-old single mother who just earned her GED and is preparing for college in the fall. They are all facing significant challenges, but they are doing whatever they can to overcome these barriers and provide for their families. Click here to read about Reta and Jerald, click here to read about Jill and click here to read about Ashley or watch a video of her telling her story. Click here for several other stories and videos explaining how our clients are overcoming challenges, and how much it would improve their lives if the state would provide more financial assistance.

Fighting for health insurance

Margaret and her husband do not receive health insurance through their jobs, they do not qualify for Medicaid and they are unable to purchase health insurance for the family because their daughter has Down Syndrome. The lack of insurance has meant that Margaret and her husband don't go to the doctor as often as they should and that their daughter has not been able to take part in the therapy programs that have been recommended for her.

It's a nearly impossible situation, but Margaret does not let it get her down. She has been speaking out to try make it easier for families in Ohio and across the country to receive health insurance and the health care they need. Click here to read more about Margaret and her family.

Ceremony honors GED graduates

More than 80 students graduated from the GED program at The Work Station during the 2008-2009 academic year. A special ceremony was held recently for this year's GED graduates, and the event was highlighted by the inspiring story of new graduate Gilbert Norris. In the photo on the left, Gilbert Norris is shown receiving his degree from Scott Hatfield. The photo on the right shows graduate Tabatha Button and her daughter after the ceremony.

Click here to read about the ceremony, see more photos of the event and learn what Norris, Button and several of the other graduates had to say about earning their degrees.