A Guide to Resources for Working Families

Child Care for Working Families

Pays Part of the Cost of Child Care While You Work

Now there’s help with the cost of caring for your child while you’re on the job or in training. The Cuyahoga County Child Care Assistance for Working Families Program pays part of the cost of child care for eligible
families (see chart below). It allows you to choose a child care center, child care home, or care by a relative or other adult, based on your family’s needs. So quit worrying about missing work when you can’t find a babysitter. Put your children in the child care of your choice while saving hundreds of dollars! See if your family qualifies…

Apply by phone or mail, no office visit is necessary!

For more information or an application today,
call the Child Care Hotline at 216-987-7346

For help finding emergency child care anytime,
call Starting Point at 216-575-0061

Child Support

The Support Your Child Deserves

The Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) ensures that families receive the financial support to which they're entitled. Depending on the nature of the case, CSEA can provide one or more of the following services:

• Maintain child support records
  
• Establish and modify support orders
  
• Initiate wage withholdings
  
• Collect child support and arrearage payments by attaching and withholding wages, bank accounts, unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, government retirement checks, federal and state income tax refunds and bonus benefits (Other means of collection may be available based on your support case.)
• Assist in establishing paternity through genetic testing
  
• Locate absent parents responsible for support
  
• Assist in the enforcement of orders pertaining to health insurance

This agency cannot assist with visitation rights, determination of child custody and/or property settlements.

Call 216-443-5100 for assistance

Cuyahoga Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA)

Down Payment Assistance Loan Program

Money Available to Qualified Home Buyers

Down payment assistance of up to $7,500 is available to income-qualified home buyers for the purchase of a home in one of the 48 Cuyahoga Urban County municipalities. This deferred mortgage loan must be used for eligible costs, and doesn’t need to be repaid until the sale or transfer of the property. All buyers must provide a minimum 3% of the purchase price from their own funds and complete certain County– sponsored or –approved training sessions on the topics of personal finances and home
maintenance. The Down Payment Assistance Loan program also offers a
Diversity Opportunity Purchase component, providing loans to convert into grants for home-buyers who purchase a property in selected census tracts where their racial group is substantially underrepresented and who live there for a minimum of 5 years.

Eligible Households

• May not have owned a home in the past 3 years (except Diversity Opportunity Purchases)
  
• Must occupy the dwelling as their primary residence
  
• Total income may not exceed the income limits listed here
  
• Must be current on all taxes

Eligible Homes

• Single family, owner-occupied only
  
• Must be occupied by the seller or vacant for at least 90 days before closing
  
• Must be inspected by the local municipality for code violations
  
• Code violations that endanger health and safety must be corrected before occupancy

For more information or to request an application,
call the Department of Development at 216-443-7260

If you live in the City of Cleveland, for more information on the city’s housing program, call City Hall at 216-664-2045

Elder Care

Home Support for those senior citizens who wish to continue living independently in their own home

Your elderly/disabled relative or loved one might just need a helping hand in order to continue living independently at home or in an apartment.

Assistance is available through the Department of Senior and Adult Services Home Support Division.

After an assessment, consumers may be eligible for a variety of support services to meet their needs.

• Personal care and homemaking services from a qualified home health aide
  
• Skilled care from a registered nurse, social worker, or occupational/ physical/speech therapist
  
• Nutritional counseling

For more information or to schedule an assessment,
call at 216-420-6800.

Department of Senior and Adult Services

Employment Services

Valuable Assistance For Working People

Employment Connection is a collaboration between Cuyahoga County Department of Workforce Development and the City of Cleveland Division of Workforce Development. They jointly operate a fully certified One-Stop Career System offering employment and training opportunities.

Call Employment Connection for more information.

• Downtown 216-664-4673
• Westside 216-898-1366
  
  

City of Cleveland Division of Workforce Development
Cuyahoga County Department of Workforce Development
Cuyahoga County Neighborhood Family Service Centers
Employment Connection - Your Competitive Advantage

The Earned Income Credit

Tax Credit - It’s Extra Money for Working Families

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a special tax benefit for working people with low or moderate incomes. Qualified workers who file federal tax returns will get back some or all of the federal income tax that was taken out of their pay during the year. Single or married parents who worked full-time or part-time during the previous tax year can qualify by
meeting certain income guidelines.

Even workers who made too little to have paid any taxes the previous year can qualify and get extra cash back from the IRS! You can even get the EITC payment with your paycheck.

Ask About Free Help Filing Your Tax Forms

Qualifying families and individuals can get free tax preparation help from a program called VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). This program could save you both time and money!

For more information on taking advantage of the
Earned Income Tax Credit and free help filing your income taxes,
call 216-436-2000 or dial 211

211/ First Call for Help

Food Benefits

Food Benefits Available For Eligible Residents

Very low-income households can obtain a more nutritious diet through the Ohio Food Stamp Program. Eligibility for working families is determined by income and household composition. Food benefits are issued monthly through the use of an Ohio Direction Card.

You can use the card to shop at any food store displaying an Ohio Direction Card sign. As an Ohio Direction Card user, you’ll have 24-hour access to a toll-free telephone number so you can check your balance and get general information and help in using your card. An interview at a
Neighborhood Family Service Center is necessary.

For more information or to schedule an interview call 216-987-7000

Cuyahoga County Neighborhood Family Service Centers
Online Neighborhood Family Service Center

Healthy Start Free Health Insurance
for Children and Parents

No-Cost Coverage for Your Younger Family Members

The Healthy Start program gives you greater control over the ups and downs of the family budget with free health insurance for your children under the age of 19. Some parents and pregnant women will also be eligible depending on their income. You must live in Cuyahoga County to qualify. Eligibility is determined by the number of family members at home, and total house-hold income.

Children enrolled in Healthy Start receive a wide range of healthcare services in addition to paid hospitalization and the treatment of serious illnesses and injuries. They'll also be covered for:

• Regular checkups
• Dental care
• Eyeglasses
• Prescription medicine
• Immunizations

Consult the chart below to see family size and income limits for eligibility.

Apply by mail. No office visit necessary.

You may apply for Healthy Start by mail or call from the privacy and comfort of your home. No office visit is necessary.

For an application, call the Healthy Start Hotline at 216-987-7346
or apply online!

Online Neighborhood Family Service Center
Healthy Start

The Grandparent/Kinship Caregiver Program

Help with Raising Young Relatives

You don't have to do it alone.

Nowadays, lots of grandparents are caring for kids. The Grandparent/
Kinship Caregiver Program is Cuyahoga County’s Plan to address the needs of relative caregivers and the children in their care.

Community Navigators are available to help caregivers access respite, legal, and community based services. To obtain assistance, call the Department of Senior and Adult Services.

For a brochure call the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services at 216-420-6772

Department of Senior and Adult Services
The Grandparent/Kinship Caregiver Program

Financial Help for Home Repairs

Low and No-Interest Loans Available!

If you're a homeowner with a low or moderate income, loans are available for one-to four-family properties in participating communities. (The owner must occupy one of the units of a multi-unit property.)

Use the money to make a variety of repairs such as furnace replacement, electrical system upgrades, broken plumbing fixtures, drains and water lines, roof tear-off, and replacement to kitchens, bathrooms, roof, etc.

Loans for code violations are given priority. You participate in contractor selection. Your yearly gross income determines the interest rate and loan term.

See the chart below for maximum income limits.

For more information or to request an application, call the Cuyahoga County Department of Development at 216-443-7260

If you live in the City of Cleveland, call City Hall at 216-664-2045 for more information on the city's housing program.

Cuyahoga County Department of Development

Free Home Weatherization Program

No-Cost Energy Efficiency Improvements

The Home Weatherization Assistance Program provides free energy efficiency improvements to eligible homeowners and renters in Cuyahoga
County, outside the City of Cleveland. Weatherization can save energy, cut your gas and electric bills, and make your home more comfortable. If you qualify, you could receive the following services at no cost:

• Furnace tune-up, clean and check
  
• Attic and sidewall insulation
  
• Minor repair of windows and doors
  
• Weather stripping and caulking
  
• Hot water tank insulation
  
• Sealing of heating ducts

Eligible Homeowners

You automatically qualify if you’re a County resident (outside of Cleveland) and meet at least one of the following eligibility standards:

• You participate in the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
  
• You participate in the Percentage of Income Payment (PIP) program.
  
• You receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
  
• You receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  
• Renters who receive HEAP, PIP, TANF, SSI or who meet the income limits are also eligible. Your landlord must sign an agreement and pay a small contribution toward the cost of services. (The landlord contribution must be greater if heat is included in the rent or extensive heating work is needed.)
  
• Landlords who meet the income limits themselves may have their contributions waived.

Homeowners and renters can qualify for the program based on the following income limits:

If you live in Cuyahoga County, but outside the City of Cleveland,
call 216-443-7280. Leave your name, address, city, zip code and telephone number. An application package will be mailed to you promptly.

For City of Cleveland residents,
call Cleveland Housing Network at 216-574-7100

Department of Senior and Adult Services
Home Energy Assistance Program - HEAP

Neighborhood Family Service Centers (NFSC)

Multiple Services All At One Location

Cuyahoga County's Neighborhood Family Service Centers (NFSC) are located in the neighborhoods where people live and work. They offer multiple services, all at one location. The NFSC provide a convenient and efficient access to many County and Community agencies, resulting in a "One Stop" service experience. The following is a list of most of the services the NFSC offer.

• Job Search and Placement
  
• Healthy Start Program
  
• Child Support Enforcement Agency
  
• Transportation for Employment Assistance
  
• OWF Cash Assistance
  
• Medical Coverage
  
• Food Benefits
  
• Child Care
  
• Prevention, Retention, Contingency Program (PRC)
  
• Voter Registration
  
• Work Experience Program (WEP)

For more information, call 216-987-7000

Visit a Neighborhood Family Service Center (NFSC) near you.

Ohio Works First (OWF)

Your Route to Self-Sufficiency

Ohio Works First (OWF) is the name of the program that offers help in obtaining employment and time-limited financial assistance to needy Ohio Families. If you qualify, a check will be mailed to you each month. The amount will be based on the number of people in your family and your family’s income. It’s important to note the OWF cash benefits have time limits: your cash assistance ends after you have received thirty six months
worth of benefits. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to receive additional cash assistance once your time limit has been exhausted.

As a condition of receiving your check, you will be asked to sign a self sufficiency agreement. Your caseworker will assist you in getting job training and in finding a job. This agreement is your commitment to complete thirty hours of work activity each week. This can include working on a job, looking for a job, or being enrolled in a job training program. If you don’t engage in these activities, your checks may be stopped. Your case worker will connect you to a wide variety of programs to help you find
a job, improve your skills,and find a better job.

OWF is only available to families living with at least one minor child or pregnant women. Your eligibility is determined by your household income and by the number of people in your family.

Application must be made in person at one of the Cuyahoga County Neighborhood Family Service Centers.

For more Information and to schedule an interview, call 216-987-7000

Employment and Family Services
Workforce Development

PRC Emergency Financial Help for Families

Preventing dependence
Retaining employment
Contingent needs

Short-term or one-time assistance is available for working families

The goals of the Cuyahoga County PRC Emergency Financial Help
program are to:

• Prevent dependence on public benefits
  
• Keep the adults in your family employed, or help them find work
  
• Meet emergency needs that threaten the health, safety or well-being of your family members

Examples of services or one-time-only cash payments include:

• Car repairs to get you to your job
  
• Payments for “sick day” child care when you won’t get paid for taking time off work
  
• Rent and utilities payment assistance during unpaid maternity leave
  
• Tools, work boots, required job uniforms
  
• Emergency assistance to prevent a gas or electric shut-off, or to repair a broken refrigerator

Eligibility for Emergency Financial Help is limited to low-income families who must show that they don’t have access to other community resources. Total value of services and/or cash to a family cannot exceed $1,500 in a 12-month period.

For more information, call 216-987-7000

Assistance for Children with Special Needs

Information and Referral for Children with Special Needs

Children with Special Needs ages birth to three:

All children grow and develop in their own unique way. However, when a child misses an important milestone or when you have concerns about your child's growth and development, your child may need special help. Help Me Grow is Cuyahoga County's one-stop center for information and referral for children with special needs under age three.

If your infant or toddler is experiencing delays in moving, talking, hearing,
or seeing, Help Me Grow can arrange for an evaluation. If your child is found eligible for services because of a delay in development or a medical condition, Help Me Grow can connect you to a full range of programs, such as speech and hearing services, nutritional counseling, mental health services, physical and occupational therapy, special needs child care, and parent-to-parent support groups.

Children with Special Needs over three years old:

If you have a child over three years of age and have concerns about their growth and development, contact your local school district for more information. Every Public School District has the responsibility to provide a free and appropriate education to identified children with disabilities ages 3-22 who reside in their district. In addition, each district has the responsibility to provide an evaluation/assessment for all children with a suspected disability. The Cuyahoga County Special Education Service Center (CSESC) is also a helpful resource for families with older children with special needs.

For more information, call Help Me Grow at 216-736-4300 or the
Cuyahoga Special Education Service Center at 440-885-2685

Ohio Department of Health - Help Me Grow
Cuyahoga Special Education Service Center

The Substance Abuse Information and Referral Program - A Service of United Way’s 211/First Call For Help

Get the Free Substance Abuse Referrals for the Assistance You Need

If you have questions concerning drugs and alcohol, call The Substance Abuse Information and Referral Program, a free telephone service that matches callers with agencies and other helpful sources.This service is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone in Cuyahoga County. All calls are confidential.

We'll help you find:

• Detoxification centers
  
• Counseling centers
  
• Support groups
  
• Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs

Our services can be used by:

• Social service agencies
  
• Hospitals and physicians
  
• Community groups
  
• Employers
  
• Schools
  
• Concerned friends and relatives
  
• Anyone in Cuyahoga County with drug questions or problems

Call 216-436-2000 or dial 211 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

211/ First Call for Help

Transportation Assistance

Free Trip-Planning Help from RTA

RTA has teamed up with Cuyahoga County to assist working families with their transportation needs. We'll help you get to work, a job training destination or an interview.

Use the RTA Work Access and Transportation Program to:

• Plan your trip with bus and Rapid route schedule information customized to fit your destination and timeframe.
  
• Get information about other transportation options, including van pool programs.

Call RTA's Service Planning Manager at 216-566-5120
or the Cuyahoga County Transportation Coordinator at 216-443-3724

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority - RTA

WIC Program

Free Food for Women, Infants and Children

By enrolling in the WIC Program, you and your eligible family members will get healthful food and nutrition counseling at no cost. Eligible Cuyahoga County enrollees include:

• Pregnant women
  
• Breastfeeding women
  
• Women who have babies less than six months old
  
• Infants and children up to the age of five who are at nutritional risk and whose families meet the income guidelines below

Simply make an appointment at a WIC clinic. Call as soon as you know you are pregnant, and talk with a health professional at your appointment. If you’re eligible, you will receive WIC coupons you can use to purchase WIC-approved foods at local grocery stores. All WIC services are free.

Ask about higher income limits for larger families.
For more information, call 216-961-2233

Cuyahoga County Department of Employment and Family Services
EFS - WIC Services

Cuyahoga County WIC Program
A Program of The MetroHealth System