EATON — Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder recently visited Preble County as part of an ongoing effort to better understand the needs of local departments of Job and Family Services, and to highlight local services available to families, job seekers and businesses.
While there he visited the Preble County Department of Job and Family Services, which manages a number of public assistance programs, as well as the children services, child support, and workforce development functions for the county.
“It is clear from my visit that the residents of Preble County have a dedicated team of professionals working on their behalf,” said Damschroder. “They are here to provide access to a wide range of resources including food, cash, and child care assistance, child support enforcement, job seeking and career building opportunities, and even help for employers with workforce development needs. I was also immensely impressed by those individuals who dedicate their lives to child and adult protective services.”
In Ohio, most social services and workforce development programs are administered at the county level, with the State, through ODJFS, providing supervision and technical assistance, as well as funding. Damschroder has been visiting counties to better determine what challenges they are facing and how the State can remove barriers or provide greater assistance to help counties.
“One of the recurring themes for counties relates to staffing, particularly children services caseworker,” said Damschroder. “Ohio had an average of 4 percent unemployment last year, the lowest since we began recording in 1976. But that leaves all employers, including counties are faced with staffing shortages and hiring difficulties.”
He also pointed to OhioMeansJobs Centers as a great resource for all local employers and job seekers.
“Not only can or OhioMeansJobs Centers help individuals find a job, build on job skills or even explore new careers, but they can help employers struggling with growing their workforce.”
During his visit, Damschroder met with Rebecah Sorrell, director of Preble County Job and Family Service, whose agency also oversees the local OhioMeansJobs Center.
“We were thrilled to visit with Director Damschroder and appreciate his interest in the successes and the challenges all local JFS agencies face,” said Sorrell. “We had an opportunity to spend time discussing the unique challenges our customers can face in Preble County, such as transportation and access to services.”
