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ODJFS Director's Tour of Community Action Agencies highlights our importance & impact

  • Jun 15
  • 3 min read

By now, we should all be aware that, effective July 1, Ohio's Community Action Agency (CAA) programs and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) officially transitioned from the Ohio Department of Development to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). This transfer consolidates Ohio's energy assistance and anti-poverty programs under one roof.

Since the announcement, ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder set a goal for himself and his leadership team to visit all 48 of Ohio's Community Action Agencies. As of last week, they had completed visits to 40 agencies across the state. Recently, Director Damschroder visited several OUCAN member agencies, including Step Forward, TCAP, and MYCAP. Previous visits included IMPACT, MVCAP, LCCAA, Pathway, and others. I had the pleasure of attending two of these visits and sharing the tremendous impact of Ohio's urban Community Action Agencies, which collectively serve more than 56 percent of the state's low-income households in 16 counties.

Since his appointment in 2021, Director Damschroder's leadership has been marked by innovation and transformational change designed to improve services for customers while supporting employees. With the help of talented and passionate staff throughout the agency, ODJFS has (The Center for Community Solutions, 2024):

  • Implemented a new system for employers to pay and track unemployment taxes;

  • Added tools to safeguard technology systems and benefits programs against fraud;

  • Introduced policies and programs to help unemployed Ohioans return to work more quickly;

  • Incentivized employers to sponsor apprenticeships by covering training and tool costs;

  • Modified the benefits self-service portal to simplify the user experience;

  • Streamlined application and renewal forms for nutrition assistance programs;

  • Expanded the use of machine-learning tools to automate business processes;

  • Modernized shared services with county offices to provide greater flexibility in service delivery;

  • Created opportunities for employees to share ideas and innovations that improve services and internal processes;

  • Made it easier for the public to engage with ODJFS through a new, user-friendly website; and

  • Led the agency through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, when extraordinary numbers of Ohioans needed assistance, fraudulent actors targeted public benefit systems, employees shifted to remote operations, and federal and state policies changed frequently.

Equally important as these accomplishments is the way Director Damschroder is approaching this transition. He is leading with compassion and curiosity and has demonstrated a sincere commitment to understanding Ohio's Community Action culture.

"You are the experts and the go-to community for people in need," Director Damschroder shared when asked about changes to Salesforce, agency reporting, and monitoring requirements. "We need to have your voice at the table during this transition to ensure we get it right."

These visits are critically important for Ohio's Community Action Agencies and the individuals and families we serve. Policy, legislation, and regulation shape monitoring, reporting requirements, and compliance with state and federal standards within the Community Action network. As trusted partners embedded in our communities, Community Action Agencies are uniquely positioned not only to implement these programs but also to help guide the oversight, accountability, and continuous improvement necessary to ensure this transition is successful.

As Ohio enters this new chapter, the continued partnership between ODJFS and Community Action presents an opportunity to strengthen systems, elevate local expertise, and expand pathways out of poverty for the thousands of Ohioans who rely on these services every day. By listening, learning, and working together, we can ensure that this transition ultimately results in stronger communities and better outcomes for the people we are called to serve.

 
 
 
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