$1.7M contract for job assistance in Butler County gets closer look

Butler County Ohio Means Jobs office in Fairfield. STAFF FILE/2014

Butler County Ohio Means Jobs office in Fairfield. STAFF FILE/2014

Butler County will investigate employment assistant needs locally before committing to a new contract with Community Behavioral Health.

Butler County entered an agreement with the mental health agency several years ago because of significant barriers — mental health issues chief among them — to successful employment for many of the county’s public assistance clients.

When presented this week with a $1.75 million, three-year contract with Community Behavioral Health, commissioners instead opted to extend the current contract for 90 days so they can delve into the details of a new deal.

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“It may be that this can be streamlined,” Commissioner Cindy Carpenter said. “I’m looking at multiple barriers to employment and I would like to verify that there aren’t other revenue sources or programs in place for these individuals now.”

“I believe it’s been four to five years since we put this sort of diversion program in place for individuals seeking public assistance,” she said. “I just know that many things have changed.”

The commissioners stressed that they are not questioning the quality of services Community Behavioral Health provides, but that they want more time to investigate current needs.

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