The impact of welfare reform in America

In a country where nearly 7 million children are living in extreme poverty, how can anyone claim that welfare reform has been a success? Athens County Job and Family Services recently completed a report examining the impact that welfare reform has had in America. The report looks at the stated goals of welfare reform and shows how the reforms have affected people living in poverty. The report also includes commentaries from conservative and liberal leaders, poverty statistics, media reports on welfare reform and information on out-of-wedlock births. To read the news release about the report, click here. To go right to the report, click here.

America's welfare system

Athens County Job and Family Services recently compiled a great deal of information dealing with the 1996 Welfare Reform Act and the impact it has made. One main point of the research was to look at the stated goals of welfare reform and how the goals have or have not been met in the last 15 years. The agency also gathered together studies of welfare reform by different organizations, commentaries from conservative and liberal researchers, and newspaper clips dealing with the reform and its impact.

Click here to read over the information dealing with the Welfare Reform Act and the impact it has made.

Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center set to open soon, but needs volunteers

The Athens County Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center is scheduled to open later in January, but urgently needs more volunteers to help with the tax returns, answer phones, schedule appointments, greet customers and assist in other ways. Click here to read more about how you can volunteer at the Athens County Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center.

Poor families can't afford more cuts in programs and services

Over the past 10 years, Ohio has slashed the budgets of programs to help poor people numerous times. State leaders have slowly but surely picked apart the programs and services that were intended to help poor families meet their basic needs and give them the opportunity to overcome their circumstances. Now, Ohio leaders are looking at more budget cuts in 2011, and poor families simply cannot afford any more cuts in programs or services. Click here to read more about the cuts in the last 10 years and why state leaders need to protect poor families in the next budget

Volunteers needed

The Athens County Fast and Free Tax Assistance Center at The Work Station in The Plains is looking for volunteers to work during tax season. The center offers free assistance to Athens County residents who are filing basic tax returns. Volunteers are needed to assist with the tax returns, answer phone calls, schedule appointments and greet visitors. Click here for more information on volunteering for this valuable program.