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LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners earlier this month declared August as Child Support Awareness Month, recognizing the efforts of child support enforcement agency personnel and all those providing support to children.
"We recognize that the well-being of Ohio's children and families relies on access to adequate financial support along with emotional support, and we recognize and commend the efforts of those parents who are committed to fulfilling their moral, financial and legal obligation to provide this support," the proclamation said.
The resolution also noted and recognized that non-custodial parents sometimes face barriers to meet their obligations and may need services and help. Providing those services "requires the commitment, leadership and collaboration of the Child Support Enforcement Agency, the Columbiana County courts, other government and county agencies, parents, caretakers and legislators," the resolution said.
According to the 2025 annual report for the county Department of Job and Family Services, the monthly average collections totaled $1.28 million. CSEA managed 7,297 cases in 2025, with 4,078 court orders processed and the percentage of all current child support cases meeting their monthly obligation totaled 74.84%.
During a recent commissioners' meeting, in other DJFS business, county DJFS Director Rachel Ketterman recommended the hiring of Christina Collins of East Liverpool as an eligibility referral specialist Il in the public assistance division. She said the agency had 11 vacancies at that time and talked briefly about some funding changes taking place related to public assistance, including the food program known as SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Later this year, the percentages covered by the state and the federal government will change, with the state expected to cover 75% of the administrative costs for the food service program instead of the current 50% and the responsibility of the federal government reduced to 25%. Now she said the state's looking at error rates. In the next year or two, she said the state may have to pay part of the food service costs for benefits, based on the accuracy or error rate. Right now, the federal government covers 100% of the food service benefits. But if the state's accuracy rate goes past a certain percentage, the state will have to pay for a portion of the benefits.
Errors can be caused by the agency, the client or the system.
"Columbiana County has a 0% error rate right now," Ketterman said.
In other business, the following contract extensions were approved for DJFS: Columbiana County Sheriff's Office, school liaison program, Aug. 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, $132,935 contract spending ceiling; Smith Oil Company, gasoline vouchers for clients, Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027, $40,000 contract ceiling; Shoe Dept., East Liverpool, school shoes program, Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027, $175,000 contract ceiling; and Shoe Sensation, Salem, school shoes program, Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027, $125,000 ceiling.
Commissioners also increased the ceiling for the current contract for two parent family support program through Ozer Ministries for DJFS from $9,240 to $11,740.
mgreier@mojonews.com