Jai-Den is a friendly, pleasant and respectful young man. He is eager to please and engages well with others.
 Jai-Den loves playing outside, playing football and video games. He likes going to community centers and making new friends. He describes himself as cool, friendly and smart.
He struggles sometimes in school, but he pushes himself to make passing grades. Jai-Den says if he could eat just one ice cream dessert for the rest of his life, his choice would be a banana split.
He's easily redirected when needed and owns up to his wrongdoings. Jai-Den is in need of a family that can display patience and understanding, a family that will support him and allow him to explore what the world has to offer.
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We're helping our partner, Cradle Cincinnati, and the state of Ohio get out a very important message about how babies should sleep.
After news of an increase in sleep-related deaths in the county last month, we sent a recorded message to 7,000 of our clients who are pregnant or who have a child under age 1.
That message detailed the ABCs of safe sleep: Babies should always sleep
Alone, on their
Backs and in a
Crib."
Suffocation because of bed-sharing is the leading cause of death in Hamilton County for babies between one month and one year of age.
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Staying power
fuels JFS
Our agency recently launched a campaign to recognize those we lean on while helping nearly half a million Hamilton County residents every year.
 Our 800+ employees work every day so many in this community can have better tomorrows. Among the work:
- Protecting children and the elderly
- Ensuring families have access to food and medical care
- Helping parents find affordable, safe child care so they can go to work without worry
- Assisting the unemployed with job searches and job training
- Helping employers find a trained and skilled workforce
- Facilitating child support payments to ensure a child's basic needs are met
It's not uncommon to meet someone who has worked for Hamilton County Job and Family Services for 20 years or more. In fact, we have 30 employees who have worked here for more than three decades each.
Our new campaign, Staying Power, highlights the employees who have been around awhile, from five to 30 years, or more. We ask them why they stay and make a career out of serving people, and we highlight their answers on our websites, in our social media and in other areas. We want them to receive recognition for their commitment to this agency and the community we serve.
I love reading their whys. Several are former clients who once needed our services and now want to help others. Here is what one employee said: "I believe in what I am doing, and it has a purpose and meaning. My work brings meaning and value to the agency. Our culture at Hamilton County Job & Family Services has a family atmosphere and being part of it is important to me. I don't want to abandon my team because my role is important and valued. I believe we are all part of something special here and that everyone has a role in achieving the agency's mission."
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National Adoption Day:
14 kids join families
We had another great Adoption Day in Hamilton County last week, with 14 kids officially becoming members of eight families.
Judge Ralph Winkler's courtroom was packed for each ceremony with friends and supporters. Caseworkers testifed about each parent, listing great attributes that make them good parents for kids who've come from tough situations.
Treka Engleman made matching Tshirts for herself and her three children and brought her pastor to watch the big event. She was so excited to officially become a mom.
Our National Adoption Day ceremony is one of our favorite days of the year. It's such a joy to watch these families thrive.
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Director Weir honored with Crowley award
We are so proud to have our director, Moira Weir, honored by the Community Action Agency with their David Crowley award, named for the former Cincinnati councilman who dedicated his life to public service.
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Director Moira Weir with Chandra Mathews-Smith, CAA board member and HCJFS director of engagement and community strategies
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The David Crowley Board Award is presented to a CAA board member who exemplifies commitment to supporting children and families in our community. In addition, the board member helps CAA fulfill the mission of providing resources to low- and moderate-income individuals to help improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.
The organization said this about Moira before presenting her with the award: "It is a pleasure to give the David Crowley Award to a Board Member who has shown extreme passion and dedication to CAA. Her expertise has been valued and instrumental in moving the agency forward. She is a humble servant and CAA is so pleased to present this award to Moira Weir. Thank you Moira for your commitment to Community Action Agency."
Weir has been director of Hamilton County Job and Family Services since 2007 and a Community Action Agency board member since 2010.
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One-Stop shop helps with access to services
Service providers are teaming up to deliver direct support for citizens in one place - the Hamilton County Justice Center.
The Hamilton County One-Stop Resource Center is available every final Friday of the month in the lobby of the justice center. It's open to all Hamilton County residents, including returning citizens, to eliminate barriers to accessing services, including mental health care, expungement and child support modification.
The collaboration is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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