2024 Annual Report
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Mission Statement:
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To help improve and enrich the lives of those we touch by providing financial, social and educational services; to empower, encourage and assist in every opportunity for self-sufficiency, respect and independence.
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A Message from the Director:
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Our agency’s foundation is built upon a long-standing American commitment to social stability and individual opportunity. From the "New Deal" of the 1930s to the landmark welfare reforms of the 1990s, the mission has remained consistent: to provide a safety net that is both compassionate and accountable. At the Wayne County Department of Job and Family Services (WCDJFS), we are the local hands carrying out these national promises.
As President Harry S. Truman once noted, “True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence.” We take this to heart by helping our most vulnerable neighbors—including the elderly, the blind, and those with disabilities—access essential healthcare through Medicaid. By determining eligibility for food and cash assistance, our staff ensures that no member of our community is left without a basic foundation of security.
However, a safety net is most effective when it serves as a bridge to independence. President John F. Kennedy famously suggested that “our objective is to help our fellow citizens help themselves,” and that philosophy guides our workforce initiatives. Through OhioMeansJobs-Wayne County, we provide the training and work experience necessary for residents to move away from government reliance. By offering supportive services like childcare and emergency aid, we help workers stay on the job and achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
Integrity is the cornerstone of these programs. We take our responsibility to the taxpayer seriously, which is why our team actively investigates benefit over-issuances and works to recoup funds when errors or fraud occur. Beyond financial stewardship, we are also dedicated to the physical safety of our seniors, collaborating with law enforcement and the County Prosecutor to investigate cases of elder abuse or exploitation.
While leaders in Washington set the vision for our country’s social programs, the WCDJFS team does the daily work of turning those ideals into reality for the people of Wayne County.
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Lisa Gunnels, Director
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Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
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mail:
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
Alexandria, VA 22314; or -
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.