Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

As a result, Ohio officials questioned $200 million in tax dollars spent by the Hamiltion County Department of Job and Family Services.

[7] Barbara Riley, then the director of ODJFS, questioned "how the private placement agency Lifeway for Youth, Butler County Children Services, and her own department failed the boy.

[10] Scarlett Bouder, spokesperson for the ODJFS, stated that "an estimated 70,000 Ohioans are now eligible for the assistance and thousands more will qualify in the coming weeks as they exhaust their regular benefits.

"[11] During last few weeks of the 2008 US Presidential election campaign, ODJFS director Helen Jones-Kelley, and members of her staff, became embroiled in a controversy over searches of Joe Wurzelbacher's government records.

The matter led to substantial news media attention during the presidential campaign, a new law being signed in Ohio, and a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Federal law requires at least 50 percent of all able-bodied adults receiving benefits to participate in work activities at least 30 hours a week.

Allowable “work activities” include such things as on-the-job training, community service and education directly related to employment.

[2] ODJFS offers financial assistance to eligible parents to help pay for child care while they engage in work and training efforts.

ODJFS has the authority to plan and develop programs, and write rules and regulations pertaining to adult protective services.

[2] As administrator of several federal workforce programs, ODJFS oversees a network of 30 full-service and 60 satellite "One-Stop Centers" that provide free job training and other services to Ohioans looking for work and employers seeking workers.