The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 26 approved several contracts to expand health and social services, including adult protective nursing visits, pregnancy-and-postpartum family supports, rental and utility assistance administered by United Way, and school-based social workers.

Why it matters: commissioners and Job & Family Services leaders said the contracts aim to prevent child neglect and family homelessness, support reunification, and provide direct nursing care for vulnerable adults in their homes.

Job & Family Services director Chris Cabot summarized four items on the agenda. Contracts approved include: a purchase-of-service agreement with Lorain County General Health for adult protective services nursing visits (item 12); a $100,000 subgrant with Lorain County Public Health (Elyria) for a coordination-of-supportive-services-for-families program (item 13); a $315,000 subgrant to United Way Greater Lorain County for TANF-eligible financial supports to prevent eviction and utility disconnection (item 14); and a $750,000 purchase/service agreement with the Educational Service Center of Lorain County for social workers in county schools (item 15).

Cabot said the family-support program has reached about 130 families in the last year and that the school-based social-worker contract had recent outcomes including hundreds of workforce-development trainings for school staff and hundreds of youth referrals handled in the past school year.

On the United Way contract, commissioners asked about how United Way administers the funds. Cabot said United Way performs eligibility assessments and manages disbursements under a 5% administrative fee; referrals can come through 2-1-1, JFS staff or children's services. Commissioners suggested adding public outreach about available services to JFS newsletters and community forums; Cabot said community education efforts are already planned.

Funding and timing: the agreements are effective Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, and will be paid from TANF and related federal/state accounts as noted on the agenda.

Ending: Commissioners approved the contracts by voice vote. They asked staff to continue public outreach and monitoring of program outcomes.