The feds have fined Ohio a total of 275 million dollars, because for three years fewer than 1 in four welfare recipients are working or are in job training programs – the feds require half of recipients to meet work requirements. The executive order approves a plan to address that which will be managed by the Department of Job and Family Services. Director Michael Colbert said in June that will be done through aggressively attacking the problem.
“Through the metros and through the other counties, we are going to make work participation a priority. It is key that we actually go out and work those cases.”
The order also creates the Ohio Works Now program, which will be submitted to the federal government this week to avoid 135 million of the fines owed. And the new budget also includes more money for county offices to help welfare them reach those work requirements.