LISBON — The Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services recognized May as Foster Care Month and Fraud Awareness Month during the county commissioners’ meeting this week.

In a proclamation approved Wednesday, commissioners encouraged “all residents to recognize the valuable services of kinship and foster caregivers.”

Earlier this week on Tuesday, county voters approved renewal of the .75-mill, five-year Children Services levy which the agency uses for abused, neglected and dependent children in the agency’s care.

“That helps us pay for kids’ placements,” county DJFS Director Rachel Ketterman said.

She also noted that a foster parent doesn’t have to be in Columbiana County, explaining that there are some foster homes they use in the Akron area, along with facilities all over that cater to children who may have more needs, such as treatment and counseling. According to the proclamation, there were 120 children and youth in foster care in Columbiana County in 2024 and 136 children throughout the county living with kinship caregivers “who increased stability for children by keeping them closer to their siblings, extended families, neighborhoods, and schools.”

A kinship caregiver can be someone the child knows, such as a relative or family friend.

The national theme for Foster Care Month was listed as “Strengthening Minds, Uplifting Families.”

“Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services works diligently to ensure that Columbiana County’s children have temporary or permanent safe and loving homes; and both caregivers and caring professionals throughout Columbiana County help prepare older youth in care for the transition to independence and self-sufficiency so they can achieve their educational and employment goals and reach their highest potential,” the proclamation said.

This month is also Fraud Awareness Month and Ketterman shared some of the county statistics from the county DJFS Fraud/Benefit Recovery Unit for 2024. There were 442 referrals received, 65 new claims opened, 17 intentional program violations, three cases referred to the prosecutor and four cases convicted, noting that some of the convictions may be from previous years. The amount of illegally gotten benefits recovered and collected totaled $79,694.

To help prevent fraud, call 1-800-806-5251 or email Columbiana_JFS@jfs.ohio.gov.

“If people know or suspect that anyone is illegally taking advantage of food assistance, cash assistance or medical, please take the time to report it,” Ketterman said.

She explained that every report is investigated.

“We work closely with the prosecutor on these cases to make sure the appropriate people are receiving the services that they’re entitled to receive,” she said.