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27 • Child Care Assistance. Reliable child care is essential for families to obtain and retain long-term employment. In addition, families participating in employment and training programs require child care assistance. For these reasons, OWF participants with children under 13 years old are eligible for subsidized child care, with the subsidies varying according to the income of the assistance group. Child care is guaranteed to OWF participants and to families who leave OWF for employment for up to one year, or until their income exceeds 300% of the federal poverty level. All families with incomes up to the state established income ceiling may be eligible for non-guaranteed child care assistance. The state child care subsidy program is funded with Ohio General Revenue, CCDF, TANF and SSBG funds. • SNAP. Participating OWF assistance groups are considered categorically eligible for participation in the Ohio SNAP program. Additionally, individuals leaving OWF may continue to be eligible if their income remains below 130% of the federal poverty level and they meet all other eligibility criteria of the SNAP program. Ohio expanded categorical eligibility to cover the four purposes of the TANF block grant in accordance with 7 CFR § 273.2(j)(2)(i)(C). • Service Integration. The CDJFS are proactively involved in local service integration to serve TANF eligible families. Each county is required by Ohio law to have a Family Services Planning Committee to provide advice to County Commissioners on implementation, administration, and evaluation of social service programs in the county. In addition, each county is encouraged to engage in a community planning process. These efforts are designed to help counties determine the needs in the county and to develop goals and strategies necessary to serve those needs and meet those goals. These efforts are intended to link public and private service providers with needs of low-income families and employers.
Section III GOVERNANCE State-County Relationship With the provision of TANF-funded services (i.e., OWF and PRC) in Ohio, each Board of County Commissioners is provided TANF allocations that must be used in accordance with state administrative rules. State administrative rules require counties to follow all applicable federal and state law including, but not limited to, federal regulations and Office of Management and Budget circulars. The purpose of the state administrative rules is to establish requirements governing reporting, cash management, audits, allowable use of funds, and other requirements to provide accountability for the use of financial assistance awarded by ODJFS. Community Plans Each Board of County Commissioners must establish a County Family Services Planning Committee to address the service needs of the county and make recommendations to the County Commissioners. The Planning Committee is encouraged to develop a County Community Plan designed to identify the county's goals, objectives under the OWF, and PRC programs, as well as the strategies that the county will utilize in achieving desired outcomes. While the plan is the end product and ultimately becomes the