HCJFS Update: November's News and Information

February 2016

Meet Messhi, Myriah and Khayree

This active, smart trio is looking for a home where they can explore sports and art.

Messhi and Myriah do well in school and like to read. Khayree isn't in school yet, but he likes coloring. All three are very active and enjoy playing outside. The trio is looking for a medium to large family, with puppies. The older two are proud of the way they study and keep their rooms, mostly, clean.

Messhi values being a good friend. He likes gym and music. He likes working with computers and making images and shapes. He likes to play golf, football, baseball and basketball. He likes watching the Reds, Bengals and Cavaliers. He prefers to play outside and likes going to the park.

Messhi's favorite music is Gospel. His favorite TV show is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many of the shows on Cartoon Network. His favorite movie is The Karate Kid. He likes to play Disney Infinity. He also likes racing and Mario games. He likes superhero toys and wants to be a superhero when he grows up.

He likes to eat Little Debbie snacks, cereal, pancakes and waffles.

Myriah said she likes being silly. Her favorite music is gospel. Her favorite TV show is KC Undercover. Her favorite movies are Inside Out and Radio Rebel. Her favorite video games are football and Mario, she likes Barbie dolls and lists books among her favorite toys. Myriah sings in the choir.

Myriah likes to eat mac and cheese and Doritos. She likes going to the mall and to parks. She would like to go to Paris someday. She would like to live in a big, busy family with three puppies.

Khayree is an energetic child. He likes to run and jump, and play all sorts of sports. He likes his skateboard too. Khayree likes going to the zoo and parks. His favorite color is green and his favorite toy is Ironman. His favorite colors are black and green. Khayree's favorite animal is a bear.

Khayree likes watching the Bengals and the Reds as well as NickToons, Ninja Turtles and Penguins. He says his favorite music is "Spiderman" music and he wants to be Spiderman when he grows up.

Quick Links

HCJFS.org

Children's services levy up for renewal in November

2016 is a big year for our agency. I am already receiving requests for information about the Children's Services Levy that must be renewed by voters in November.

The levy supports the system of care established to protect our county's children. This includes entities from our agency, to other government organizations, such as Hamilton County's Juvenile Court, Prosecutor's Office and Mental Health Board, to private social service agencies that help children, such as Lighthouse Youth Services, Beech Acres Parenting Center and Talbert House.

Last year, our agency alone helped more than 16,000 abused and neglected children.

Let me take this opportunity to provide some education about the process of placing the levy on the November ballot and how the money from the levy is used. And since the process will begin soon, this information is timely and allows you to have a voice in the process.

Beginning next month and through May, our agency, and the money we spend protecting this county's children, will be reviewed by an independent, outside consultant. That consultant will make a recommendation to the county's Tax Levy Review Committee on the need for the money and how it is being spent.

In June, the Tax Levy Review Committee will hold public meetings. The committee then will make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

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State official finds OMJ takes great care of vets

A big congratulations to the staff at our OhioMeansJobs office - they got rave reviews from a state official sent anonymously to test their skills and training.

Zachary Ludi, veteran program manager for the Office of Workforce Development, did not identify himself as a veteran when he walked into the OhioMeansJobs/Cincinnati-Hamilton County office. He wore a Gulf War ball cap.

Here's what Ludi reported:

"From the moment I walked into OhioMeansJobs/Cincinnati-Hamilton County, I felt welcomed as a military veteran. Both Shannon at the front desk and state Customer Service Representative Sonya thanked me for my military service. I was provided local workshop information and encouraged to register for OhioMeansJobs.com. Additionally, Sonya provided me with a guided tour of the features on OhioMeansJobs.com, including the job search function, backpack features, resume grader and the military veteran's portion of the website located through Private OWEN.

"Afterwards, I was provided with a warm hand off with Customer Service Representative Kenni. Kenni offered to market my resume with her local employer contacts as well as share it with Workforce Specialist Darryl, a military veteran that markets customers with local employers. This pairing of customers with Workforce Specialist and/or Business Service is a great practice to share.

"During the site visit, I observed an efficient veteran intake process. I was impressed by the professionalism and the holistic customer service approach OhioMeansJobs/Cincinnati - Hamilton County provides to Ohio's military veterans. It is a great model of how partners are working together as a team to meet employment goals for Ohio's military veterans."

Tim Scott retrains all staff in this priority service each quarter and makes sure the lobby complies with all signage requirements. Thank you to everyone at OMJ who worked to get this honor.

Please bring hats, gloves to any Sibcy Cline location

The Gloves for Love winter drive to collect warm accessories for foster kids is well under way - we have received hundreds of hats, scarves and pairs of gloves already. Our storage closet is filling up!

We are sharing them with the foster care agencies with partner with, including SAFY, Lighthouse Youth Services a

nd St. Joseph Orphanage. We plan to share with some Northern Kentucky agencies as well.

Please drop off new hats, scarves and mittens to any of the 22 Sibcy Cline locations throughout Greater Cincinnati and Dayton.