Counselor Supplements!

We are introducing an essential new tool for OBB counselors.  It can be hard to keep track of all the details involved in the application process for JFS administered benefits. That’s why we created this “JFS Cheat Sheet” to help explain the process to your clients.  This document was developed in partnership with your County Department of Job and Family Services. 

Here is how you can access this document now and anytime in the future:

           1. Here on our blog, scroll down until you see the counties we serve in Central Ohio, in the right sidebar  of the blog. (In red and blue)

 

2. Click on your county.

3. You will see your county name in the first top left section, and underneath it a link to your counselor “JFS Cheat Sheet,” followed by text that explains this is for all counselors to print.

  

 

4. Click the “JFS Cheat Sheet” link, which will take you to a Google Document containing a pdf version of the document.  You can print this document directly from the website, or you can download to your computer to save and print.  Please open it either way and print this document to have with you at all times when you are with a client.  

5. Each county is different, so if you work in multiple counties, click on the other county to print their counselor supplement page as well.  This is a work in progress, so keep checking back if a county doesn’t have one posted yet.  (The counties currently with completed supplements are limited to Morrow, Licking, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Madison, Clark, and Champaign. 

6. If you have an corrections or additions, please email Sarah at solinger@oashf.org

Important Benefit Bank Changes!

New Help Desk Number

Effective November 11^th the new TBB Help Desk number will be: 855-TBB-HELP (855-822-4357).  

New Website:  

www.ohiobenefits.org

The new OBB site is up in running!  This website will serve as a portal for both self-serve clients and OBB counselors.  Please take a couple minutes to explore the new site.  You can access your counselor login there, as well as the Quick Check and Site Finder.  (These links are also all on the top of this blog). There are also all sorts of resources for clients.

OASHF Paper Plate Campaign

As many of you are aware, OASHF has launched a grassroots effort for Ohioans to have their voices heard by their elected officials; The Paper Plate Project. To help spread the word about the Paper Plate Project, a new website has been published: www.paperplateproject.org! On this website, individuals can complete virtual paper plates, view paper plates that fellow Ohioans have submitted and even order paper plates that OASHF will ship to organizations wishing to become involved in the project.

Our goal with this project is to collect over 50,000 paper plates from across the state that bring awareness to hunger, poverty and the multitude of issues that Ohioans are facing each and every day. There are many ways you and your team can become involved:

1. Post a link on your website drawing attention to the Paper Plate Project
2. Order plates that will give Ohioans you serve every day the opportunity to have their voices heard by their elected officials
3. Send the link out to your member agencies, so they become of this project and how they can become involved
4. Socialize the Paper Plate Project
1. Twitter
2. Facebook
3. Blogger

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate Charles Barber, cbarber@oashf.org, or Danielle Gray, dgray@oashf.org.

Capacity Building Grants Now Available

The Ohio Benefit Bank in partnership with the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is pleased to announce the availability of Free Tax Assistance Capacity Building Grants for this coming tax season.

The instructions/application information as well as the budget worksheet can be downloaded at: www.oashf.org/ohiobenefitbank.html

Below is a summary of the grant opportunity:

1. Organizations must agree to use The Ohio Benefit Bank to help Ohioans file their taxes free of charge or assist Ohioans in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

2. Maximum grant awards are $12,500 for existing Ohio Benefit Bank sites and $3,000 for organizations looking to start a new Ohio Benefit Bank site.

3. All grant applications are due by November 29, 2010 at 4 PM (EST).

Question may be directed to Joree Jacobs at the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks at jjacobs@oashf.org.

Franklin County Winter Crisis Information

Attention Franklin County counselors:  We added a couple resources for you at the bottom of our Franklin County Resource page that give more information about IMPACT Communuty Action's HEAP program and their walk-in procedures.  If you are helping clients that need utility assistance in Franklin County, please look at these resources!

Click here for HEAP Fact Sheet

Click here for Walk-In Procedures document

Are you connected with a Community Action agency elsewhere in Central Ohio?  Let us know if you have resources that we can post to help clients in your area!