FCJFS maintains a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service to those we serve.  With this in mind, we regularly survey on-site customers to identify if we are meeting their needs and what level of service they received.  FCJFS staff surveyed customers four times during 2016 with over 500 responses received.  Among those 500 customers, 97.43% stated that they received excellent or good service during their visit and 96.81% had their needs addressed.  Customers who were not satisfied or felt that their needs were not met were given an option to receive a follow up call from our Customer Service Ambassador.  The survey responses often highlight the great work that our team is doing by thanking staff members by name.  We are appreciative that our customers take time out of their busy days to share their comments.  Some comments reinforce our current business practices and others offer great suggestions on how we can improve.  In order to be outstanding public servants we must listen and be responsive to those that we serve.

On a personal note, I want to thank all of you for your continued support for Fairfield County Job & Family Services.  On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you a very merry holiday and a happy new year!

Sincerely, 

Aundrea Cordle
Director, Fairfield County Job & Family Services
Annual Job Fair a Success!

JFS, in partnership with Ohio University-Lancaster, hosted a Job Fair on September 30 th .  This event was open to the public and was attended by a record 100 employers and over 200 job seekers.  JFS has hosted an annual Job Fair for the last 15 years and each year tries to build on the success through surveys and feedback received from participating employers and job seekers. This year's surveys indicated that 93% of the responding employers would recommend the event to other businesses.
One of the participating employers commented, "I was pleased with the venue, the accommodations and the job seeker traffic. The event coordinators did an excellent job of putting together a strong event."
The Job Fair offers individuals who are seeking a new or better job the convenience to see what kinds of jobs are available in the area and to explore many different options all in one place. It also provides them with the opportunity to network with other job seekers. According to one of the attendees, "I go to a lot of hiring events and this one is the best one I have been to in a while. I was able to talk to a lot of employers and hopefully make a good impression."
Though these job fairs are only once a year, JFS hosts onsite hiring events on a regular basis for local employers. Anyone who is interested in more information on these events can visit the website at www.fcjfs.org . 

Thanksgiving Grace
Local Church Provides Food, Fellowship

Thanksgiving Grace is an annual event, sponsored by the Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, which seeks to provide holiday time to children in agency custody who may be placed away from their family members at Thanksgiving.  The 3 rd annual Grace was held November 19 th , 2016.
Pickerington Nazarene Church members provided everything to make the holiday special for kids and adults.  Traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as stuffing and turkey were prepared with individual tables set for each family that reserved a spot.   After mealtime, parents were offered the opportunity to complete crafts with their children, play various games/ activities, and socialize/ listen to music.  Protective Services staff, Kinship, and Foster Families assured children were able to get to the event. 
The event began in 2013 as a small idea and has grown extensively each year since.  This year the agency had approximately 70 participants in attendance.  As always, the Protective Services staff is always grateful to the Pickerington Nazarene congregation and the many ways they give back to the children and families of Fairfield County.
There is Still Time!
Deadline to Sponsor a Child Nearing

THERE'S STILL TIME TO MAKE A WISH COME TRUE!  Children, families, and elderly adults linked with Protective Services this holiday season need your help.  The support we have already received from our Fairfield County community has been unbelievable, so thank you.  We continue to stay busy matching Wish Lists from children and elderly with all of our donors who will be sponsoring them - and the wish lists keep coming.   
Have you thought about providing a donation or sponsoring a child, family, or elderly adult for Christmas? If so, please contact Heather Funk at 740-652-7689 or email at [email protected] .   
JFS Welcomes 
New APS Supervisor

Protective Services is excited to announce the addition of our new Adult Protective Services Supervisor, Mindy VanBibber.  Mindy is a 2008 graduate of Ohio University.  She has been with the Protective Services Department since 2012.  Mindy has experience as a Child Protective Services Intake caseworker and most recently as a Protective Services screener. Mindy began her new role on October 24, 2016 and is excited to lead her new team!  
November is 
National Adoption Month

Adoptive families and advocates recognize every November as National Adoption Month.  In Ohio and in Fairfield County, Governor Kasich and Fairfield County Commissioners Steve Davis, Mike Kiger and David Levacy issued proclamations bringing attention to the number of children over the age of twelve awaiting their forever family. 
The theme of "National Adoption Month - We Never Outgrow the Need for Family, Just Ask Us" perfectly captures the growing need for adoptions of older children.  Of the 177 children in agency custody in Fairfield County, 30 are waiting to be adopted.   Of those 30 children, 22 are over the age of twelve.  Fairfield County Job and Family Services believes providing an older child with lifelong positive connections is one of life's greatest gifts and these children can succeed and reach their full potential when they are prepared for adoption and their voices are heard.  Moreover, adoption offers a unique experience that positively impacts children and enriches the lives of the adoptive families who welcome them.  No child should linger in foster care or leave the system at any age without a permanent family.  For more information about the adoption of an older child, please call 740-652-7887 and ask to speak with a Permanency Team member.
CSEA Welcomes New Attorney
 
The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) is excited to announce that Natalie Noyes, Esq has joined the Legal Team. Natalie is a Lancaster native who received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of Wooster before attending Law School at Capital University. She has been licensed to practice law in Ohio since November of 2014 and has spent most of that time working for Burkett & Sanderson, Inc.
Natalie currently serves as the Secretary of the Fairfield County Bar Association and also volunteers at the local Pro Bono Legal Clinic. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys running, CrossFit and reading and also loves Italian food.  Natalie began her new career in CSEA on November 30th, 2016.
 
What is Rapid Response?

As part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 2014 (WIOA), the Workforce Development Department at JFS provides rapid response services to individuals who are laid off from employment due to business closings and downsizings. Some of these services include career exploration, labor market information research, resume assistance, job search techniques, intensive career counseling and training assistance. The term "rapid response" refers to the necessity of informing eligible individuals of these services immediately upon learning of a business closing or downsizing. Often times, the Workforce Development Department, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will host "rapid response events" in order to inform the dislocated workers of the services and programs that are available to them. These events are held at their place of employment or other off-site location depending on the circumstances and at the convenience of the impacted workers.
Recently Carnival Foods announced that they would be closing their doors by the end of 2016 and laying off 201 total employees at their 3 locations. The Lancaster location alone impacts 100 workers. A rapid response event was held on the evening of November 30th for these dislocated workers who were able to receive information about services available to them as well as ask any questions they had about filing for unemployment and other relevant topics. In addition, several local grocery stores had human resource representatives at the event to meet with the attendees regarding potential employment with their companies.
JFS Career Advisors will continue to work with these individuals to develop a plan for their job search efforts, potential training opportunities and re-entering the workforce as quickly as possible.
2016 Friend of Adoption Award Winner: Tessie Swain

During the Annual Meeting of the Fairfield County Family Adult and Children First Council (FACFC) on November 17, Fairfield County JFS recognized the contributions of Tessie Swain as a stalwart adoption advocate whose contributions have made a difference in the lives of many adoptees and their families.  Ms. Swain is employed as the Multi-System Youth Coordinator for FACFC.  The Friend of Adoption Award was created to recognize individuals in our community who have made a special and unique contribution to supporting and nurturing adoptees and their wonderful families. 
 
Former honorees include Attorney James Linehan, Pastor Phil Manson of Pickerington Nazarene Church, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Wendy's Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiter, Felicia Newell, Judge Terre Vandervoort, and Molly May, a child and family therapist. During the presentation, Permanency Manager Johanna Pearce shared the following:   "Ms. Swain has gone the extra mile by working with adoptees and their families during very challenging times.  It is easy to support families formed by adoption when things are going well; it is more difficult when there are difficulties.  Ms. Swain has worked to become knowledgeable about adoption issues and services to meet the unique needs of children and their families.  Over and over again, her empathy, genuine concern and professional expertise has made the difference for children and families who struggled with isolation and worry.  In many cases, her responsiveness has stabilized an adoption and helped the family move toward wellness with meaningful services and supports. Additionally, Ms. Swain has served on a committee to review Ohio Department of Job and Family Services special funding with Protective Services to support these same families living in Fairfield County."  Congratulations to Tessie Swain for this well-deserved recognition.  
 
F a i r f i e l d  C o u n t y  J o b  &  F a m i l y   S e r v i c e s
www.FCJFS.org
(740) 652-7889 | 239 West Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130

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