Ohio Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder visits Lake County

Chad Felton, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Mar. 16—During a recent visit to the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder and his staff participated in a roundtable discussion with the Lake County commissioners, Lake County JFS Director Suzanne Casar, and several members of the management team.

Damschroder was appointed interim director of ODJFS by Gov. Mike DeWine in March 2021 and was named the department's permanent director four months later.

Discussions centered on changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the Medicaid unwinding and the "important work" being done in Child and Adult Protective Services.

Workforce initiatives and services offered through the Ohio Means Jobs Center in Painesville were also part of the discussion.

"The phrase of the day is 'thank you,' thank you to Suzanne and her staff for the tremendous work they do in the community, and thank you to Director Damschroder for being a champion for Lake County in Columbus," said Lake County Commissioner John Hamercheck after the meeting.

Touting the agency's community support, Damschroder said the "hard work" of Lake County JFS makes a significant difference in the lives of families and children.

"It truly can change the trajectory of a person's future," he added.

Casar said the opportunity to bring local challenges, in addition to successes, to the attention of state leadership reflects greatly on the department's dedication, work and to Lake County.

"And we are grateful," she added. "Director Damschroder visited with the intention of sharing our feedback with the decision-makers in Columbus, and we appreciate the opportunity to meet with him."

"It's great to see the partnership between Lake County and the state of Ohio," said Commissioner John Plecnik. "This partnership in Job and Family Services is mission-critical to provide the services our residents need."

Added Commissioner Richard Regovich, "I am happy to see workforce development was top of mind when Director Damschroder visited Lake County, and I look forward to continuing to create and provide job opportunities to our residents."