GOVERNOR MARKS OPENING OF NEW STATE AGENCY

Governor Bob Taft today officially marked the creation of a new state agency, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Taft addressed employees of the new agency and unveiled the department's new logo during a lunch-time event in downtown Columbus. The new agency was created July 1 with the merger of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services and the Ohio Department of Human Services.

"We're streamling services and breaking down barriers to help Ohioans find good jobs and new careers," Taft said. "Ohio businesses will benefit from a steady supply of workers ready to perform on the job."

Shortly after taking office in January 1999, Taft announced his plan to combine the two agencies to eliminate duplication and create a more efficient workforce development system. In December, Taft signed House Bill 470, sponsored by Rep. Bill Harris (R-Ashland) and Sen. Robert Gardner (R-Madison), which officially created the new department.

"The new agency will do business in a new way," said Jacqueline Romer-Sensky, director of the new agency. "We're measuring our performance so we can ensure we're getting results for taxpayer dollars. In doing so, our goal is to be a national model in service to families, employers and employees."

One of the initial undertakings of the new department is the combining of the job-matching computer systems operated by the two former agencies. The combined system is being built on the www.OhioWorks.com platform. Another duty of the new department is implementation of the federal Workforce Investment Act. The Act, which took effect July 1, authorizes a new workforce system to replace the Job Training Partnership Act and other provisions of federally-funded job training programs.

The new agency employs about 3,700 and has an annual budget of $10.4 billion. Among the programs it develops and oversees are employment and economic assistance, health care, child support, adoption, foster care and protective services. Information about services available from the new agency is available at jfs.ohio.gov