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Perry County Job & Family Services

Stronger Together: Community Impact Report 2025

Perry County Opportunity Center: 5250 State Route 37 East, New Lexington, Ohio 43764
Protective Services: 526 Mill Street, New Lexington, Ohio 43764

740-342-3551 • 740-342-3836 • jfs.perrycountyohio.gov • @PerryJFS on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

A Letter from the Director

As we reflect on 2025, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for what this team has accomplished, and even more importantly, for who this team is becoming.

This year, Perry County Job and Family Services took meaningful steps forward on every front. While we can’t possibly capture every achievement, I’d like to highlight a few that truly reflect the spirit of our momentum. One that stands out to me is the event that brought every one of our staff together, our 16th Annual Back-to-School Bash. We celebrated one of our strongest years on record, once again showcasing this community’s remarkable generosity. Every member of our team played a part in its success. It was also the first project since our merger that we all shared—walking alongside individuals and families on their journeys toward stability and self-sufficiency, and celebrating every milestone along the way.

Another moment that truly stands out to me is our first‑ever Night of Hope, held in November. This event gave us the opportunity to pause and honor the quiet heroes for children in our community. It was an evening of community and collaboration that reminded all of us why our work matters. Our team of professionals in child and adult protection have moved our practice forward in meaningful ways that celebrate and encourage family voice, and honor families as the experts in their own lives. We join with families across Perry County and the state to elevate relationships and acknowledge that healing can and does happen.

Through it all, the PCJFS team is finding its stride, one day at a time. Our team members are serving on cross-functional committees, showing up for one another’s events, and building the kind of camaraderie that makes an organization not just functional, but truly great.

As you explore this year’s Community Impact Report, I hope you’ll see both the breadth of what we do and the depth of why we do it. The numbers tell an important story, but the real story is found in all the ways we are inspiring hope, creating opportunities, and strengthening our community, one life at a time.

Amy L. Frame, Director of Perry County Job & Family Services

Our Mission

is to inspire hope and create opportunities to empower individuals and families.

Our Vision

is one of endless possibilities not only for our agency, but for all of Perry County.

We Value

List of Available Services

Services

Find more information about available services at jfs.perrycountyohio.gov.

Child Support

The PCJFS Child Support Unit is able to assist with child support cases in Perry County through establishing paternity, establishing child and medical support, enforcing an existing child support order, and enforcing arrears payments. Each year, the PCJFS Child Support Unit serves thousands of children and families. It also hosts community programming and events to foster community and act as a resource for parents and families.

Economic Mobility & Responsible Parenting Grant (EMRP)

Peer Educator/Peer Mentor = 2 Team Members
Ending June 30, 2026.

Wear Green for Child Support Awareness

Wear Green Day for child support awareness was August 6, 2025. All PCJFS team members and several community partners wore green to show their support and raise awareness. Green shirts were provided to JFS staff and the Perry County Commissioners to wear to the Back-to-School Bash which was also August 6, 2025. A group photo was taken and submitted to the Ohio Child Support Professionals Association for a contest. The photo won Fan Favorite from all the pictures submitted.

Amount Collected and Amount Disbursed
YearSupport Collections ReceivedSupport Collections Distributed
2023$3,850,598.90$3,708,296.21
2024$3,930,300.38$3,785,168.62
2025$3,838,777.35$3,752,798.18

Summer Splash with Dads

The PCJFS Child Support Team hosted three Summer Splash with Dad pool parties in 2025. One took place on June 11 in Somerset, the next one was on June 18 in New Lexington, and the third and final party was held on June 25 in Crooksville. Each year, Child Support organizes these events to celebrate and encourage responsible and involved fathers and offer an opportunity for fathers and their children to enjoy a day at the pool together. These continue to be popular events with an average of 40 attendees at each party.

Child Support Success Story

A child support caseworker was able to start collecting on two cases where the same absent father had not made a payment in years. Payments are now coming in regularly from the father’s employer. This has generated financial help for the custodial mother that she had not received previously.

Child and Adult Protective Services

Child Protective Services

The PCJFS Protective Services Unit includes child and adult protective services. The children services team works to inspire hope and healing for children and families by ensuring safety, providing support, and achieving permanency. Programs include Intake and Ongoing Services, Foster Care and Adoption Services, and the School Outreach Program.

Child Protective Services by the Numbers

State Fiscal Year 2025: Children Who Gained Permanency Through
CategoryChildren
Reunification15
Custody to relative17
Adoption0
Waiting to be adopted7
Aged out of the system6
Total children served168
In home73
In custody95
Primary Reason for Removal
ReasonChildren
Housing Stability7
Sexual Abuse5
Parental Incarceration7
Developmental Disability1
Physical Abuse3
Delinquency/Behavior23
Adoption Disruption1
Domestic Violence10
Neglect13
Substance Abuse22
Medical Neglect2
Parent Inability to Cope1
Total Placement Costs (Total Funds: $2,852,579.68)
Placement typeAmountShare
Agency Licensed Foster Home$167,970.006%
Licensed Private Network Foster Home$61,663.442.05%
Residential Treatment Facility$2,098,821.3073.58%
Kinship Support Program$18,568.800.65%
Placement for Children Not in Agency Custody$505,556.1417.72%

Child Protective Services at a Glance

Practice in Action Together (PACT)

PACT stands for “Practice in Action Together,” and is designed to help us shape our practice to achieve better results with the children and families with whom we work. Our Local Advisory Group for PACT has entered its second year of implementation. Our Local Advisory Group is comprised of staff, administration, ex-foster and adoptive parents, youth with lived experience in foster care, and parents with lived experience working with child welfare. We have updated our charter to reflect shared values and are beginning testing of strategies that will be utilized to help us ensure that the families we work with feel included, are listened to, and are recognized as the expert on their own lives.

As a Cohort 1 county, Perry County is currently visiting with other counties that are in the beginning stages of PACT implementation and sharing our experiences to aid them in forming their own local advisory committees.

Ohio START

Ohio START, which stands for Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma, is a groundbreaking program adopted by ODJFS, PCJFS, and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) and aimed at providing a way for families dealing with substance use and child welfare issues to gain safety and sobriety while maintaining family unification. In 2025, we had four Ohio START cases which served five adults and 12 children. START prevented 11 children from coming into custody. To date, START has successfully closed two of the four cases.

Child Protective Services Successes

Our unit worked with a developmentally delayed mother who had just given birth to a healthy baby. Unfortunately, due to the delays of the mother and housing issues, the mother could not properly and safely care for her child. Through a successful Interstate Agreement, the child was placed in the legal custody of family members. The mother is still able to visit with the child and get updates on the child weekly and will have in-person visits as the family travels to Ohio. The child is in a loving and stable family with the mother and father’s direct inclusion in his life.

A teenager in our permanent custody who experienced a disrupted adoption and was in a long-term placement in a group home was able to transition to a home with a kinship provider. This child is doing incredibly well in this home and has bonded with his caregivers. A home environment is best for children and due to this person being willing to take in this child, he is now experiencing a more normal childhood.

A Night of Hope: Dinner & Awards

PCJFS held its inaugural Night of Hope Dinner and Awards on November 6, 2025, at The Barn at Backwoods, marking a heartfelt evening dedicated to celebrating the power of hope, healing, and human connection.

Inspired by the “Together We Can” event hosted by the Perry County Board of Developmental DisABILITIES (PCBDD), PCJFS Night of Hope honored the incredible stories of youth, families, and organizations touched by the child welfare system.

Guests were inspired by a dynamic keynote address from Lara LaRoche, a practice implementation adviser with Public Children Services Association of Ohio, whose message highlighted what she affectionately calls “Perrydise,” a place defined by unity, strength, and unique partnerships that make Perry County truly special. She reminded guests that when communities work together, hope doesn’t just survive, it thrives.

During the awards ceremony, each honoree was celebrated through video tributes filled with messages of love and encouragement from friends, family, and colleagues.

Honorees included:

Adult Protective Services

Adult protective services are available to help vulnerable adults age 60 and older who are in danger of harm, are unable to protect themselves, and may have no one to assist them. We continue to invest in programs designed to support and protect our aging population, as funding allows. Through targeted initiatives, older adults receive food assistance, fraud prevention education, and opportunities to enhance digital skills through our Senior Tech Program. Additional supports include homemaker services, housing assistance, accessibility improvements such as ramps and medical equipment, and utility assistance to help seniors remain safe and independent in their homes. These essential services are made possible through special grant funding, including the Adult Protective Services (APS) Stimulus Grant and Title XX funding, which together strengthen our community’s ability to promote dignity, independence, and quality of life for older adults.

Adult Protective Services at a Glance

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD)

The 2025 WEAAD was held on June 13, and the theme was home safety. PCJFS provided items and information to help seniors stay safe and secure in their homes. Chief Deputy Eric Hoskinson of the Perry County Sheriff’s Office opened the event with current trends related to senior safety and crime. PCJFS provided a Home Safety Kit to the first 100 attendees who were 60 years or older. The Home Safety Kit addressed the adult’s ability to be safe in their home in a variety of ways – from security to completing tasks in a safe and independent manner. Items included in the bag consisted of a door/window alarm, a diversion book safe, indoor motion sensor light, and a phone/key finder with an insulated lunch bag. Lunch was catered by Trotters Bar and Grill.

Adult Protective Services Stimulus Funds (Total: $17,330.64. *These funds ended in September 2025.)
ServiceAmountShare
Homemaker Services$5,923.0034.18%
Housing$4,905.2028.30%
Ramps and Medical Equipment$139.990.81%
Utility Assistance$6,362.4536.71%

Adult Protective Services Success Story

Katz Cleaning and an APS worker got together last year and cleaned out an APS client’s apartment that was bedbug infested and worked with Passport to get her treatment. Her apartment manager almost served her an eviction because of clutter, bugs, and hazards in the apartment that were resolved through support with Buckeye Hills Regional Agency on Aging and JFS Homemaker services.

Public Assistance

The PCJFS Public Assistance Unit administers government programs designed to provide support and resources to individuals and families in need. Program eligibility is often based on factors such as income, age, employment status, and veteran status. Benefits range from cash assistance to housing assistance, and help with things like nutrition benefits, health care coverage, childcare needs, non-emergency medical transportation, kinship services, and prevention, retention, and contingency services to help people overcome immediate barriers to self-sufficiency. The PCJFS Public Assistance Unit works to administer the programs accurately and efficiently for eligible Perry County residents.

Medicaid

In Perry County, Medicaid covers:

Medicaid expansion has been shown to cut the uninsured rate among low-income adults by nearly three percentage points compared to non-expansion states; a significant public health and economic benefit.

Medicaid Expansion in Perry County: 2,483 Total Enrollees. The Medicaid caseload is comprised of several major groups:
GroupEnrolleesShare
Covered Families and Children1,34154%
Medicaid Expansion55622.4%
Aged, Blind, and Disabled42517.1%
Medicaid Premium Assistance1566.3%
Other50.2%

SNAP and Ohio Works First

Public Assistance Success Stories

One of our PCJFS Public Assistance Specialists went above and beyond to help a mother obtain her son’s prescription before many physician offices and pharmacies closed for the weekend. The pharmacy initially indicated there was no insurance coverage for the medication. The specialist promptly contacted the managed care provider to investigate the issue, identified and corrected the problem with the case, and ensured the coverage processed successfully so the child was able to receive his necessary medication before the weekend.

Workforce

The goal of the PCJFS Workforce Unit is to help households increase financial self-sufficiency, remove barriers to employment and training, and provide supportive services necessary to enter or stay in the workforce.

Prevention, Retention, Contingency Program (PRC)

The PRC Program of Perry County is designed to provide benefits and services to low-income families to overcome immediate barriers that prevent the achievement of self-sufficiency by promoting work and personal responsibility. To qualify, families must meet requirements related to income, household composition, and employment. In addition to core services, the Workforce Unit operates a diaper bank, a professional clothing closet, and a shelf-stable food pantry to assist individuals and families experiencing emergency needs. These resources are available to help remove immediate barriers and support stability during times of crisis.

PRC Spending (Total: $654,214.91)
CategoryAmountShare
Back to School (B2S)$202,031.7330.88%
Housing$124,397.5419.01%
Camp$121,704.2018.60%
ITP Education (Training)$67,417.6210.31%
TANF Summer Youth$40,163.836.14%
EIP$33,200.005.07%
Car Repairs / Tires$25,816.383.95%
Gas Vouchers$18,974.312.90%
ALA$11,901.841.82%
Utility$3,630.540.55%
Kinship$3,445.000.53%
Car Seat$1,074.000.16%
Work Experience Transportation$457.920.07%

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program

A primary service administered by the Workforce Unit is the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program. The WIOA Program offers in-demand training for youth ages 14-24, adults who are income eligible, and dislocated workers (those who have been laid off are automatically eligible with proof of lay-off or proof of unemployment insurance payments). The training cap is $25k per program year for two years. The supportive services cap is $10k for the duration of a participant’s enrollment. Supportive services include gas vouchers, equipment, uniforms, clothing, etc. The Workforce Unit provides case management during the enrollment period and completes follow-up for the year after disenrollment to track the participant’s employment and wage status.

WIOA – In School

Case management for workforce and training opportunities for in-demand job fields for students aged 14 through graduation. It provides incentives for attendance, good grades, and graduation.

WIOA – Out of School

Case management for workforce and training opportunities for youth aged 14-24 who are not currently enrolled in school.

WIOA – Dislocated

Case management for workforce and training opportunities that pays for in-demand training for participants who have been laid off.

WIOA Adult

Case management for workforce and training opportunities that pays for in-demand training for participants who are income eligible.

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

This Ohio Department of Behavioral Health funds grant offers support for behavioral health-related workforce training. (formerly Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.) This grant provides up to $25k in training expenses per participant, plus various supportive services. Totals for the duration of the grant through 2025:

Childcare

The Workforce Unit conducts childcare licensing and eligibility work. This unit licenses and monitors Type A, Type B, and In-Home Aid childcare homes along with determining eligibility for publicly funded childcare, the childcare choice voucher program, and early childhood and education programs by processing applications.

Benefit Bridge Program

This intensive case management program focuses on single parent households that have seen a reduction in SNAP benefits. It provides payment for training such as Phlebotomy, EKG, and STNA Certificates as well as other supportive services such as uniforms and gas vouchers, incentives, and more to help move participants to self-sufficiency. This unique pilot program is aimed at addressing the “benefit cliff” in which an increase in income results in a significant loss in benefits.

Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program (CCMEP) and Work Plus

PCJFS works in conjunction with Hocking-Athens-Perry County Community Action Partnership (HAPCAP) to serve Perry County youth ages 14-24 who are income eligible year-round and during the summer. Enrolled youth receive personalized case management to plan for the future while also receiving incentives for educational activities. During the summer, youth may be able to participate in summer employment for six to eight weeks paid at a rate of $12.50 per hour.

Adult Outreach

This program provides for a Workforce Unit case worker to be present at community events and frequented locations throughout Perry County providing information and resources about PCJFS programming.

Re-Employment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program

This program offers individual re-employment services case management for selected Unemployment Insurance (UI) recipients, including resume building, job search, UI assistance, and more!

Youth Outreach

Workforce case workers in New Lexington, Crooksville, Sheridan, Tri-County, JA Inspire, and Miller High Schools provide individualized coaching on employment, training, and life planning opportunities.

16th Annual Back-to-School Bash

In 2025, we served 540 families, which included 1,013 students at our 16th Annual Back-to-School Bash which was held on August 6. We had 33 vendors that joined us for the event, and we received $6,075 in charitable donations, which included $1,500 from The Elks and $2,000 from The Eagles. The Perry County Health Department, Perry County Public Library, Genesis, and Mt. Aloysius also sponsored activities at the event.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

PCJFS provides non-emergency transportation services for Medicaid beneficiaries, ensuring they can access healthcare appointments safely and reliably. These services are offered at no cost to eligible individuals, removing barriers to care and supporting the health and well-being of our community members. By helping residents get to and from medical appointments, these services promote independence, timely healthcare access, and overall quality of life.

Workforce Unit Successes

Carlie D. entered the Benefit Bridge program on SNAP, Medicaid, and Childcare. She enrolled in WIOA to cover her tuition for Dental Hygiene. At that time, Carlie was unemployed and living with her parents. After 18 months in the Benefit Bridge program, she graduated from college with her Dental Hygiene license and is now earning $48 an hour as a dental hygienist, all while carrying virtually no debt. As of March 2025, she is no longer receiving SNAP benefits and is living independently with her children. Additionally, her daughter is receiving assistance through our childcare program to cover preschool costs.

Haley I. joined the Benefit Bridge program while working on call at Genesis, where she was enrolled in the WIOA for LPN. At that time, she was receiving Medicaid, SNAP, and childcare benefits. Throughout her journey in the Benefit Bridge program, she completed her LPN and went on to earn her RN, becoming a licensed registered nurse with an hourly wage of $24.54. As of December 2023, she is no longer receiving SNAP benefits; however, her daughter is enrolled in preschool childcare, and they continue to receive Medicaid assistance.

Kayla P.’s journey with the Benefit Bridge program began while she worked as a dental assistant. Residing with her aunt and awaiting housing assistance, Kayla received SNAP benefits, childcare support, and Medicaid for herself and her two young children. Her son participated in the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP) and the Work+ summer employment program. With support from the Individual Training Plan (ITP), Kayla completed her dental assisting training. Her ambitions didn’t stop there; she was accepted into an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) program, where she excelled and received her licensing approval. Today, Kayla earns $31 an hour at a dental office and has successfully transitioned away from SNAP benefits, marking a significant milestone in her professional and personal journey.

A 2025 summer youth employee, who worked at Value Auto Auction, was offered a permanent position at the end of the summer program. The participant was initially very shy and hesitant, but she quickly opened up and many staff there felt she may have found her niche. The youth remains employed in this position and is continuing to do well in her role.

Workforce Success Stories

Nathan recently reached out to share that he has accepted a full-time teaching position with the University of West Virginia. He expressed deep gratitude for the support he received, especially the opportunity to participate in a mock teaching lesson. That experience proved to be a pivotal moment, as it helped him refine his delivery and build confidence. During his interview, WVU was highly impressed with his presentation skills and teaching style, ultimately leading to a job offer on the spot. Nathan’s success is a powerful example of how preparation, practice, and support can come together to create life-changing opportunities.

Acknowledgements

Staff

Perry County Commissioners: