Employment Specialist/ OhioMeansJobs Marketing Specialist, Monica Metcalf, left, and Ottawa County JFS Director, Stephanie Kowal, flew to Put-in-Bay on Jan. 9 to help local residents with unemployment claims. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

OAK HARBOR – The work of helping the community never ends at the Ottawa County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS). JFS Director Stephanie Kowal and her team are always looking for new ways to protect and enhance the wellbeing of children and adults across the county, from finding new ways to assist with employment stability to placing foster children in safe homes. Recently, they spread their wings and implemented a new, convenient service for Put-in-Bay residents.

On Jan. 9, Kowal and Monica Metcalf, who serves as the Employment Specialist/ OhioMeansJobs Marketing Specialist, flew to Put-in-Bay to offer assistance to residents with unemployment claims. Ferry travel is suspended for the winter, so residents could only connect with the OhioMeansJobs office at JFS by phone or by flying to the mainland.

“We started recognizing that people on the island were struggling with unemployment claims, so we went over there,” Kowal said.

Stephanie Kowal and Monica Metcalf fly into Put-in-Bay on Jan. 9. (Submitted photo)

Kowal and Metcalf flew over with the assistance of the Erie Ottawa International Airport and were picked up at the Put-in-Bay Airport by the Put-in-Bay Police Department. Police officers drove them to the village council chambers, where Put-in-Bay Mayor Judy Bloom graciously provided space for them to meet with clients.

“We can’t touch their cases, but we can sit with them and help,” Kowal said. “They were so happy to have us over there.”

The Ottawa County JFS office is committed to protecting the welfare of children, and in January, the office was recognized as being number one in Ohio for percentage of child support collections. Kowal credited her team’s strong casework for the success.

“It’s finding out where people are and making sure employers’ withholding notices go out timely so the money goes to the custodial parent,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges that the JFS office faces is finding local foster homes for children.

While they were working at Put-in-Bay, Stephanie Kowal and Monica Metcalf had the opportunity to meet the island’s resident goats, Frankie and Gracie, shown here. (Submitted photo)

“We’ve licensed a few more foster homes and kinship homes, but we’re still looking for foster parents,” she said. “Some of our foster kids with behavioral health needs have to be placed in a residential facility four hours away. Some kids with developmental delays or cognitive delays need a lot of one-on-one care.”

The JFS office is currently placing a strong emphasis on helping clients who receive public assistance due to changes in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding. The office is focusing on accuracy in cases to ensure clients meet new SNAP guidelines, and they are informing clients of requirement changes.

“New work requirements rolled out in March regarding who has to work,” Kowal said. “We’re making people aware of the changes. We’re doing phone outreach and sending mail and text reminders. If anyone has questions, they should call their caseworker.”

For more information, visit https://ottawacountyjfs.org.