Ombudsman Program

STARK COUNTY

Job & Family S E R V I C E S

How To Contact OmbudsmanFour ways to reach our ombudsman:

Phone(330)451-8866

E-mailStark_Ombudsman@odjfs.state.oh.us

Mail/In-Person221 3rd Street S.E., Canton, 44702

Fax(330)451-8090

www.starkjfs.org

STARK COUNTY

Job & Family S E R V I C E S

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Stark CountyJob & Family ServicesChildren Services Division300 Market Ave. NorthCanton, OH 44702Child Abuse/Neglect Report Line: (330)455-KIDSFoster/Adopt:(330)451-8789

Child Support Division122 Cleveland Ave. N.W.P.O. Box 21337Canton, OH 44701 Customer Service: (330)451-8930Payment information:http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocs

Human Services Division221 3rd Street S.E.Canton, OH 44702 Cash, Food & Medical AssistanceCustomer Service: (330)451-8861 Customer Service e-mail:stark_csc@odjfs.state.oh.usNew Applications: (330)451-8500JOBS/Child Care: (330)452-4661

SCJFS Mailing Address & Executive Offices221 3rd Street S.E.Canton, OH 44702(330)452-4661

When Should You Contact an Ombudsman?

• Whenyouhavequestionsabouttheagency’srules,procedures,andpolicies.

• Whenyouhavebeendeniedaservicetowhichyoubelieveyouareentitled.

• Whenyoufeelyouarebeingtreatedunfairlyorthatnooneislistening.

• Whenyouareconfusedbythesystem.

• Whenyoufeelthatyourcivilrightshavebeenviolated.

What Will the Ombudsman Do?

• Actasaneutralparty

• Listentoyou

• Clarifyconfusingrules,laws,andpolicies

• Investigateyourconcernorinquiryinaconfidentialmanner

• Explainwhatishappeningandwhy

• Provideatimelyresponse

• Mediateconflictswhennecessary

• Helpfileaformalcomplaint

Role of the Ombudsman• Listentobothsidesoftheissue

• Actinafair,unbiasedmannertohelpresolveconcerns

• ActasabridgebetweencustomerandStaff

Before you contact an

Ombudsman• HaveyouspokentoCustomerService?

• Haveyouspokentoyourworker?

• Haveyouspokentoasupervisor?

• If your concern is about a nursing home or in-home care, have you contacted the Area Agency on Aging’sOfficeoftheLong-TermCareOmbudsman at: 1-800-421-7277?

You have a right to a state hearing

IfyoudonotagreewithanactionordeterminationdecisiononyourbenefitsbyStarkCountyJobandFamilyServices,youcanaskforastatehearing. To request a state hearing, call 866-635-3748

TheOhioDepartmentofJobandFamilyServicesisapublicagencywhichmanagesfederalfunds.Lawsdonotallowfordiscriminationinmanagingprogramsthatusefederalfunds.Thetypesofdiscriminationincludesex,race,color,nationalorigin,religion,ancestry,orhandicap.Ifyoufeelyouhavebeendiscriminatedagainst,sendyourcomplaintto:

Civil RightsOfficeofInternalAdministration

OhioDepartmentofJob&FamilyServices30EastBroadStreet,32ndFloorColumbus,Ohio43266-0423