Federal Grant Award Summary

The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) received a formula grant award of $318,834 from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families under the Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs (CFDA 93.597). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, enables Ohio to establish and administer programs that support and facilitate non-custodial parents' access to and visitation with their children. Eligible activities funded through this grant include mediation (both voluntary and mandatory), counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement (including monitoring, supervision, and neutral dropoff and pickup services), and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements.

As the state-level intermediary, ODJFS leverages this federal funding to distribute resources to local county agencies, community organizations, and service providers throughout Ohio. The formula grant allocation is determined based on the number of children in Ohio living with only one biological parent relative to the national total, ensuring alignment with demonstrated state need. Grant funds must supplement rather than supplant existing state expenditures for similar activities, and all program activities are subject to federal compliance requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and applicable HHS regulations.