Social Services

Employment Transportation

To apply for employment transportation, click here. Additional information for Employment Transportation and eligibility requirements can be found in the Prevention, Retention and Contingency Funds section of this page.

Non-Emergency Transportation (NET)

Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) is a statewide program administered by Allen County Job and Family Services for Medicaid eligible customers. NET provides transportation to and from Medicaid providers. Transportation authorization may be in the form of bus passes, cab or van services, or mileage reimbursement. Must complete a Medical Transportation Application in order to be eligible.

Links for NET services:

Client Rights and Responsibilities

Medical Provider Verification Form

NET Application

NET Customer Request Form

CONTACT US

Please contact 419-999-0224 for additional information.

The Prevention, Retention, Contingency (PRC) program helps families residing in Allen County overcome immediate employment-related barriers. The goal is to help families achieve or maintain self-sufficiency. Ultimately, the program lessens the need for ongoing public assistance, by ensuring that the adults of the families stay employed.  Services are provided to prevent families from reliance on Ohio Works First cash assistance. PRC services are also provided to help people retain employment. Contingency services are provided to meet a presenting need which, if not satisfied, threatens the safety, health or well being of one or more minor members of the family.

View Services here.

The PRC program is not a cash payment and is not on-going support. Click here to learn more about cash assistance.

Do I Qualify?

Eligibility for PRC is dependent on the applicant’s demonstration and verification of the need for financial assistance and/or services. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or a “qualified alien”, an Allen County resident and be part of an Assistance Group which:

• Includes a minor child who resides with a parent, caretaker, relative, legal guardian, or legal custodian (as defined in ORC 5107*) or
• A pregnant individual with no other children (a single pregnant woman, with no other individuals in the assistance group will be considered a AG of two) or
• A non-custodial parent who lives in Allen county and whose child resides in Ohio is eligible for PRC services as long as they remain active in at least one of the following programs and all other eligibility criteria are met:
  • OhioMeansJobs – Allen County programs,
  • Seekwork Services or
  • Big Brother/Big Sister Mentor Program
• An eligible family may also consist of a minor child residing with a parent, caretaker relative, legal guardian or legal custodian as approved by Allen County Children Services (who may or may not be related to the minor child) who may significantly enhance the family’s ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
  • Note: A child may be considered in the home if temporarily absent from the home and the absence meets the requirements of OAC 5101:1-3-04 as verified by Allen County Children Services including:
    • The AG member has been absent for no longer than 45 consecutive days;
    • Location of the absent individual is known;
    • There is a definite plan for the return of the absent individual to the home; and
    • The absent individual shared the home with the AG prior to the onset of the absence.
• For purposes of eligibility for a placement payment only, a child placed through Allen County Children Services, to a family in another county will be considered an Allen County family.

*“Minor child” means either of the following: An individual who has not attained age 18; or an individual who has not attained age 19 and is a full-time student in a secondary school or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training.

What are the income limits? 

For Prevention and Retention Services, the Assistance Group must have a combined gross monthly income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) updated annually. Children Services Programs and Healthy Start/Healthy Families eligibility will be at or below 200% FPG. For Contingency Services, the income will be based on all household members excluding the income of minors in secondary school and must be at or below 200% of the FPG. Click here to view the most recent FPG chart. 

How do I apply? 

1. For services other than transportation, click here to complete or print an application and/or apply in person at Allen County Job and Family Services – Social Services Unit.  
2. Please also click here to complete the Self Attestation Form.

What type of assistance is available? 

County Prevention, Retention and Contingency Plans can be found HERE.

Funding and programs change, so please contact us at (419) 228-2621 for current information. 
Contact us if you have questions about your eligibility.

Child Care for Parents

Allen County Job and Family Services publicly funded child care partially covers the cost of child care for eligible low to moderate income families.

Caretakers (parents) can choose from nearly 1,500 providers and centers to find one that meets their specific needs. Providers are required to meet health, safety and training standards, ensuring parents and caregivers have access to safe, quality child care while they are in work or school. Ultimately, Child Care helps ensure children are safe while parents work toward financial stability.

Learn More

Child Care for Providers

Allen County Job and Family Services publicly funded child care covers part of the cost of child care for eligible low and moderate-income families. In order for a provider to care for children of families receiving publicly funded child care, the provider must be licensed by the state or county.

Learn More

TANF Purpose 1: To provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives

In accordance with Section 307.100 of Amended Substitute House Bill 166 of the 133^rd General Assembly, the Allen County Kinship Caregiver Program was created. This program is intended to provide reasonable and necessary relief of child caring functions so that kinship caregivers, as defined in ORC 5101.85, can provide and maintain a home for a child in place of a child’s parents.  This is a program that is a joint effort between Allen County Job and Family Services and Allen County Children Services.

As used in sections 5101.851 to 5101.853 of the Revised Code, “kinship caregiver” means any of the following who is 18 years of age or older and is caring for a child in place of the child’s parents:

(A) The following individuals related by blood or adoption to the child:

1. Grandparents, including grandparents with the prefix “great,” “great-great,” or “great-great-great”;
2. Siblings;
3. Aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, including such relatives with the prefix “great,” “great-great,” “grand,” or “great-grand”;
4. First cousins and first cousins once removed.

(B) Stepparents and step-siblings of the child;

(C) Spouses and former spouses of individuals named in divisions (A) and (B) of this section;

(D) A legal guardian of the child;

(E) A legal custodian of the child.

Services:

Stabilization Services: designed to transition the child into and maintain the child in the home of the kinship caregiver. Examples of stabilization benefits include, but are not limited to child care services not to exceed four months; or incidentals incurred when taking on the responsibility of caring for a child unexpectedly (i.e. purchases for basic needs such as but not limited to cribs/beds etc.).

Caregiving Services: The benefits or services will be directly paid to an ACDJFS approved caregiving service. The care is designed to provide temporary relief of child caring functions. The minor child for who caregiving services are being provided shall be (a) Under age 13 at the time of application and may remain eligible until he/she turns 13; or (b) Be under age 18 at the time of application if the child meets the definition of special needs pursuant to rule 5101:2-16-01 of the Administrative Code, and may remain eligible until he/she turns 18. The kinship caregiver or other member of the AG shall be participating in one of the following approved activities:

• Paid employment on a full-time or part-time basis;
• A training or education activity that prepares the caretaker for paid employment; or
• Participating in one or more work activities as a condition of eligibility for either Ohio Works First (OWF) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• The AG must inform ACDJFS within 10 days if no member of the assistance group is participating in an approved activity or if the child is no longer residing with the kinship caregiver.

Eligibility:

ACDJFS is working with Allen County Children Services with this program.  ACDJFS will check eligibility once the application is submitted from Children Services.

• AG for Stabilization Services includes only a minor child residing with a kinship caregiver.
• AG for Caregiving Service includes a minor child residing with the kinship caregiver and one kinship caregiver.
• AG has or has applied for a social security number.
• AG must be a U.S. citizen or a “qualified alien.”
• AG must not owe any of the cost of fraudulent TANF assistance paid to the individual.
• AG must be afforded the opportunity to register to vote (when applicable).
• Even though eligibility requires AG to have Allen county residency, out-of-county temporary placements will be considered (applies to Stabilization Services only).
• The AG shall have gross income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Income received during the past 30 days shall be used as an indicator of the income that is and will be available to the AG. However, ACDJFS will not use past income as an indicator of income anticipated for the certification period if changes in income have occurred or can be anticipated. If income fluctuates to the extent that a 30-day period alone cannot provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, ACDJFS will take the last 90 days’ income if it will provide an accurate indication of anticipated fluctuations in future income.
• A redetermination of TANF eligibility for KCP is required every twelve months from determination of initial eligibility.
• The AG must apply for Publicly Funded Childcare first before requesting those services under the PRC Kinship Caregiver program.

ACDJFS will provide the AG written notice of a denial or its intent to withhold, reduce, suspend or terminate Kinship Caregiver Program Services (JFS 04065).

At any time, KCP families can apply for general Prevention, Retention & Contingency Services, including short-term, on-going and contingency (rent, utilities, mortgage, etc) directly through ACDJFS. 

For more information about other Kinship Services offered through Job & Family Services, visit the Office for Children and Families website or the Foster, Adoption and Kinship Care website.  If you have additional questions, please contact us at 419-999-0224.

If you disagree with any action on your case or if you believe ACJFS has not taken an action it should have, you may request a hearing by phoning the ODJFS Consumer Access Line at 1-866-635-3748 or by emailing your request to BSH@jfs.ohio.gov or contact Allen County directly at (419) 228-2621 or Allen_CDJFS_Hearings@jfs.ohio.gov.

To find out more about state hearings, please review the state hearing section of the ODJFS Program Enrollment and Benefit Information document.

The Bureau of State Hearings is excited to announce that the redesigned SHARE (State Hearings Access to Records Electronically) Portal has been deployed this week.  The SHARE Portal allows appellant’s to directly access their state hearing information electronically.  The login and password for the SHARE site is the same as the login and password for the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal.  The Portal will provide access for appellants and authorized representatives to: review state hearing records, request a hearing, upload a document, request a reschedule,  or withdraw a hearing.   The website is https://hearings.jfs.ohio.gov/SHARE/.  Please check out the website when  you have the opportunity.  New language regarding the SHARE Portal is scheduled to be added to the Ohio Benefits Notices as of the release of 3.5.1 on October 14.  With this change, we are hoping to increase use of the SHARE portal as the primary way for appellants to request and manage their state hearing information.

This video, which is also included on the Portal, explains how appellants can use the SHARE Portal:  https://youtu.be/IqmbYL-4aF4.

If you are applying, re-applying or moving, complete a Voter Registration form by clicking here. Please read instructions carefully. For further information, you may consult the Secretary of State’s website at: www.OhioSecretaryofState.gov or call (877) 767-6446.

Please use the following information to contact us about social services, child care, PRC or transportation services:

Phone: (419) 999 – 0224

Email: allen_social_services@jfs.ohio.gov

STEPS 

Please use the following information to contact us about STEPS:

Phone: (419) 999-0227

Fax: (419) 228-0420

Email: allen-workactivities@jfs.ohio.gov