The new year brought in uncertainty due to a devastating pandemic, which not only required Tuscarawas County JFS to distance–but then found a way to bring us together like never before.
Our agency employs about 100 people who provide services for our county of about 94,000. Much of our staff was sent home immediately in March after the Governor’s orders were issued and thrown into a work-from-home environment that was unfamiliar to them. New technology, new rules, sickness, and the uncertainty of world events took a toll on everyone, but the work of a public services worker doesn’t end.
Many services were expanded during the pandemic, which allowed additional compensation to go to those in need without the usually required verifications. Our Income Maintenance staff took in approximately 15,000 calls since April. They were also expected to expedite any medical applications, and our county achieved close to a 99% timeliness rate during 2020.
The children services staff continued to see children in placements and for abuse/neglect reports when they could. For those children in congregate settings, virtual meetings were held as the centers did not allow personal contact with persons outside their facility. Our agency continued to allow parents and children to visit at our agency (except for a small period of time), to allow for the reunification process to continue.
Adult Protective Services continued to see those aged 60 and over, but on a more limited scale. Due to the pandemic, our APS staff worked diligently to try to keep the aged population out of the congregate care settings, often delivering food or other supplies to them when there was no other option.
Funds became available to assist our county residents, and our agency helped disburse over $30,000 for rent/utility assistance to those whose income was affected by Covid.
This year, our agency had 42 children enter our custody. Agency staff worked with our foster homes and other agencies to find the most appropriate care setting for the children to assure they were placed in a safe environment.
Our agency was not immune to the virus and over the course of nine months, there were several positive cases reported at our agency. For those working at home, they were also dealing with issues such as Covid, childcare issues, or school-related issues. Whatever the scenario, our at-home and in-agency staff worked together, continued to reach out to each other to assist, and succeeded in providing benefits and services to our community with incredible success.
If a global pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we can and we will succeed by pulling together and utilizing each other’s strengths for the good of all.
-Submitted by Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services