Nick McWilliams reporting – Families currently enrolled in the publically funded childcare assistance program with the Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services office can get some temporary relief.

The Ohio JFS office announced millions of dollars to assist with copayments for parents and caregivers.

Under the child care program, according to TCJFS Director David Haverfield, guardians are required to pay a portion of childcare costs, which will now be temporarily taken away.

“Most of our clients pay a certain copay, and that depends on the number of child, and what your income level is. For right now, the state has stepped in and provided a little over $10 million statewide to cover those copays for folks until the money runs outs. Essentially, it’s going to depend on how many people take advantage of it. For all those folks that are already on childcare [assistance,] it’s going to cover that.”

Only licensed ODJFS care providers are permitted for use of the waiver, and applications might take up to 30 days to process.

Applications for childcare assistance are available online at www.jfs.ohio.gov.

Questions can be directed to (330) 308-7768.

Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2022