Budgeting and food planning workshop to be held at The Work Station

The Work Station will host a free workshop on Thursday, Sept 19. The workshop will focus on budgeting and food planning, and a free lunch will be provided to those who attend. Click here for more information.

Ohio Poverty Law Center publishes study with county fact sheets on Medicaid expansion in Ohio

The Ohio Poverty Law Center has published a new study on the proposal to expand Medicaid in Ohio. The study provides a great deal of information, including figures from each county for items such as the number of people who have no health insurance, the amount that hospitals are paying for uncompensated care each year and and the number of people who would be covered by Medicaid if the program is expanded as proposed. Click here to go to the new report.

Food Stamps cut approved by the President and Congress will hurt families

All U.S. residents who receive food assistance benefits will see a cut in their benefits beginning in November.

The cut, which will be an average of $10 per person per month, will hurt children, senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, parents, and people who are facing a wide range of challenges. The cut will also strike another blow against the economy in Athens County and around the country.

“It might not seem like a lot, but for families who are struggling every day to keep food on the table, a $10 to $20 cut is critical,” Athens County Job and Family Services Director Jack Frech said.

Two interesting articles provide additional perspective on the recent Cato commentary about welfare in America

A recent report from the Cato Institute about welfare in America has been receiving a great deal of media attention. Here are links to two very interesting articles that take a deeper look at the report, and a link to a report that Athens County Job and Family Services published.

Here is a link from Business Insider to an article titled "There's A New Study That Says Welfare Pays Better Than Work — Here's Why It's Total Nonsense"

Here is a link from the Toledo Blade to the editorial titled "Easy chair or safety net? A new study says welfare discourages work, in Ohio and across the country. It isn’t that simple or clear"

Also, here is a link to a report that our agency put together to explain the facts of what welfare spending is really like in Ohio and in America.

Unemployed area residents encouraged to apply for job training assistance program

Athens County residents who are unemployed or underemployed may be eligible for a free program that can help them find new jobs and enroll in job training courses. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program, which is designed to help area residents move into long-term jobs, is currently looking for adult dislocated workers who would like assistance with enrolling in job training or educational programs.

Click here for more information