April 15, 2024
Columbus, OH – The Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) has resumed providing a full array of services to the public at each of its three Community Opportunity Centers during standard hours of operation, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Public access to Opportunity Centers was limited during the federal public health emergency as a precautionary measure, and the Agency began providing select in-person services last year, after it ended.
With today’s announcement, residents can once again access a full array of on-site services and in-person assistance during regular business hours at the Franklin County JFS East Opportunity Center (1055 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus 43203), Northland Opportunity Center (1721 Northland Park Ave., Columbus 43229) and West Opportunity Center (314 N. Wilson Road, Columbus 43204). Residents can complete applications for public assistance benefits like food assistance, cash assistance, Medicaid or Publicly Funded Child Care; upload verification documents at self-scanning stations; access interpretation and translation services; and have their general inquiries addressed on-site at the location most convenient to them.
“We’re Job and Family Services. We’re in the people business,” JFS Director Michelle Lindeboom said. “It may be easier than ever to apply for benefits and monitor your case online, but we know technology can be a barrier for some and we want to make sure that in-person option is still available.”
The health and wellbeing of residents and staff remains the top priority for JFS. Opportunity Centers are mask-friendly, and the Agency has taken steps to accommodate social distancing and implemented other health and safety measures. JFS has also made operational changes and facility upgrades to improve the resident experience.
“We want to create a seamless experience for residents and we’re going to constantly be evaluating how our Opportunity Centers are operating and looking for ways to improve,” JFS Chief Administrator Vivian Turner said. “It’s going to be a continuous process and the resident experience is always top of mind.”
Residents do not need to apply in-person for benefits. They can apply or check on the status of an existing application over the phone at 1-844-640-OHIO (6446) or online at any time at
www.benefits.ohio.gov.
Residents can also check on the status of an existing case, submit verification documents and sign up for text message notifications online through the Ohio Benefits Self-Service Portal at
https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov.
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The Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services provides timely public assistance benefits and builds community partnership through inclusion, responsiveness and innovation. Learn more at https://jfs.franklincountyohio.gov and follow FCDJFS on Facebook, Instagram Twitter and YouTube.