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

How the myth of the welfare queen died

The NBC News blog, "In Plain Sight, Poverty In America" is filled with great information, and the most recent post is outstanding. The most recent post is titled:

"'People think everyone who is poor gets welfare, and it's just not true'; How the myth of the welfare queen died"

Click here to read the post.

Click here to go to the home page for the blog.

CATO Versus Reality: 2013

In August, the CATO Institute will release a report based on the premise that welfare benefits are so high that recipients have little incentive to accept jobs. This is an old argument that has never been valid and is much less so now.  Both the number of cash assistance recipients and the value of their benefits have dropped dramatically. The Athens County Department of Job and Family Services has prepared a response to the CATO report.

Click here to read the news release about the report.

Click here to read the response from the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services.

Free workshop to provide tips on gardening and composting

This workshop will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15 at The Work Station in The Plains from noon until 2 p.m.
Click here for more information.

Back To School resource programs

Several local organizations are holding Back To School programs to get school supplies and clothing to local families who are preparing for the upcoming school year.

Athens County 211 has compiled a list of these local Back To School programs. Click here to see the list. If you live in Athens County, you can also call 211 for more information about these programs and other social services programs in the county.

August is Child Support Awareness Month in Ohio

Currently in Ohio, more than 1 million children are involved in the state’s child support system.

In order to recognize the importance of parents providing support for their children, August has been declared as Child Support Awareness Month in Ohio. Child support programs provide important services such as collecting child support for families, establishing the legal relationship between children and their parents, and enforcing court orders.