Click here to find child care providers in your area.

To report a lost or stolen SNAP card, call 1-866-386-3071.

Food assistance benefits are distributed electronically through the Ohio Direction Card, which is similar to a debit card. Benefits can be used to buy most food products. SNAP cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, medicine, hot food products that are made to be eaten immediately (including prepared food from grocery stores and restaurants), and non-food items.

Unfortunately, you cannot pay Instacart delivery and service fees with an EBT card. According to SNAP guidelines, you can only buy eligible food items using your benefits. You need a secondary form of payment, such as a credit or debit card, to pay for Instacart delivery and service fees.

SNAP guidelines are clear on what items can be purchased using the benefits. EBT cardholders can only buy eligible food items using an EBT card, and Instacart delivery and service fees are not covered with the benefits.

Therefore, you need to add a credit or debit card to your Instacart account to pay for those additional charges.

If an individual is receiving Medicaid while giving birth the newborn is considered a deemed newborn for Medicaid purposes and will be eligible to receive Medicaid for the first full 12-months of their life.

Healthchek is Ohio Medicaid’s child health benefit for children under age 21. The Federal name for this
benefit is Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment services, or EPSDT. The purpose of Healthchek is to
find and treat health problems early, so your child can have the best health and development possible. Healthchek is
free and covers Healthchek exam (well child check-ups), hearing, vision and dental screenings to diagnose any health
problems your child might have. It also covers medical and dental treatments and equipment that may be determined as
medically necessary.

No. Healthchek is the children’s health component of Medicaid for children under age 21.
Under Healthchek, your child can receive medically necessary services or equipment that would be covered by federal
Medicaid whether or not the service is covered by Ohio's Medicaid plan for adults. Also, your child can get more of a
certain service than would be provided to adults. For example, a child could get more physical therapy than an adult
would get if the added therapy is medically necessary for the child. Children also can get more dental care than adults.

No. Once your child is enrolled in Ohio Medicaid, he or she can receive Healthchek services. Ask the
Healthchek Coordinator at your County Department of Job and Family Services’ (CDJFS) for more information about
Healthchek services.  

In addition to the screening services, your child can get medically necessary services or equipment that your
child's Medicaid provider recommends. Some services must be approved by Ohio Medicaid or the managed care plan
your child is enrolled in. Examples of available services or equipment include:
• Physician and clinic services
• Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
• Laboratory and x‐ray services
• Home health services and private duty nursing services
• Personal care services
• Care coordination or Case management services
• Physical therapy and related services
• Any medical care or other type of remedial care (example: occupational therapy) recognized under state law
• Other diagnostic, screening and rehabilitative services recommended by a licensed Medicaid provider
• Durable medical equipment
• Dental services
• Certified pediatric nurse practitioner services
• Nursing facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and inpatient psychiatric
hospitals
• Respiratory care services

For more information on how to become a provider go to:

NewProviderEnrollment-FAQs_2024 (1).pdf (ohio.gov)

Resources for Providers | Medicaid (ohio.gov)

You can also call with enrollment issues/questions the Integrated Help Desk at 1-800-686-1516

 

There are five Medicaid Managed Care Providers (MCP) in Ohio. These are - Caresource, Buckeye, United Healthcare, Molina, and Paramount.  Effective 12/1/2022 Medicaid will be introducing three additional MCP's, AmeriaHealth Caritas, Human Health Plan, and Anthem BC/BC.  Paramount will be phased effective 12/1/2022. 

If you are enrolled in a Managed Care Provider (MCP), you would call your provider directly to order a lost/replacement card. 

Caresource: 1-800-488-0134

Buckeye: 1-866-246-4358

United Healthcare: 1-800-895-2017

Molina: 1-800-642-4168

Paramount: 1-800-462-3589

If you are not enrolled in a MCP, you would call 1-800-324-8680 for further assistance. 

If on a managed care provider (Caresource, Buckeye, United Healthcare, Molina, or Paramount), reach out to your specific managed care plan to get a referral to a Dr., dentist, specialist, etc.

If you have traditional Fee for Service Medicaid (a Medicaid paper card) please follow these instructions to locate a provider who accepts Medicaid:

• In your internet browser, go to Medicaid.ohio.gov 
• Click on "Find a Provider", near the left center of the page, by the magnifying glass
• Chose the county you'd like to be seen in, and under Provider Type, select what service you are seeking. (such as Clinical Counseling, Dentist Individual, Physician/Osteopath Individual, Professional Medical Group, etc.) 
• Once you have selected the Provider Type you can narrow down by "Provider Specialty" if needed. 
• Reach out o the individual(s) or practice listed to ensure they are taking new patients and still accept Traditional Medicaid. 

Transportation can be provided to/from medical appointments for individuals receiving a full-category of Medicaid. MPAP, which is QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 are not full Medicaid categories, so would not qualify for transportation assistance. If you have a managed care provider through Medicaid, you would need to contact your managed care provider first for transportation assistance prior to utilizing the transportation program at JFS.  Also, those who are required to participate in the Work Requirement Program for SNAP and/or TANF may be eligible to receive transportation assistance.  All transportation services are provided via Medina County Transit. Please call 330-661-0835 with any questions or to see if you would qualify. 

You can receive the cash assistance, if eligible, for up to 36 months in a lifetime.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Families are defined by federal regulation and state law as follows:

• A minor child who resides with a parent, specified relative, legal guardian, or legal custodian (a child may be temporarily absent from the home provided certain requirements are met);
• An individual who is pregnant;
• A non-custodial parent who lives in the state, but does not reside with his/her minor child(ren).

In order to apply for PRC you would need to have a minor child or pregnant individual residing with you, or be a non-custodial parent who lives in the state of Ohio but does not reside with his/her minor child(ren) and is current on their child support obligation and working no less than 30 hours per week.

Our greatest need is for families who are willing to take school aged children, teens, and sibling groups.

• Fill out an application
• Attend training sessions (24 total hours, divided between self-directed/online training and in-person training)
• Complete a background check
• Pass a fire inspection and safety audit
• Complete a home study

The home study is a series of home visits with a foster care coordinator/assessor to share and gather information and determine your suitability to become a licensed foster parent. The assessor will work with you to complete all the necessary paperwork and safety inspections required to become licensed. The home study process can take three to six months.

Once you submit an inquiry form and speak with a member of our staff, we will create your profile on Binti, our online licensing program, so you can begin completing the necessary paperwork to become licensed. Please note that you will need to complete the application before working on any other items. After you have completed the preservice training and submitted your application and supporting documentation, we will assign a foster care coordinator/assessor to complete your home study.

You will be assigned a foster care coordinator/assessor who will complete your home study with you. If you have met the requirements you will become licensed to foster and will be approved for adoption. 

Your role is to:

• Provide for children’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter
• Create a safe place for children to learn and grow and cope with complex feelings
• Ensure that children feel equal and included in all family activities
• Support children’s identity and traditions
• Provide transportation for children to appointments, activities, visits, and events
• Monitor and strengthen children’s academic progress
• Provide consistent, realistic guidance and discipline
• Work with the professionals and biological families to promote effective reunification

Assistance will include:

• Medical Coverage: Foster children receive coverage through Medicaid offering full coverage for all medical needs including routine healthcare, prescriptions, and counseling.
• Financial Support: Licensed families are paid a stipend to help meet daily living needs of the children placed in their home.
• Ongoing Training: Families are provided continued training on topics offering knowledge and guidance on the children placed in your home.
• Foster Care Events: Annual events for families and children such as summer picnics, fall hayrides, holiday lights & gifts, etc.
• Personal Support: Families are assigned a foster care coordinator who will take your family into consideration and make recommendations when placement decisions are being made, and who will be available to your family as a support throughout the duration of placements.

You need to be at least 18 years of age to become a foster parent.

No, you simply must be able to meet basic household needs.

No. You can be married, single, divorced, widowed.

No. You can own or rent and can live in a house, apartment, or mobile home. You must have sufficient space for children and their belongings.

No. You can be employed or stay-at-home. Assistance may be available for the cost of childcare.

Yes. All spouses and live-in partners must attend the pre-service training. You do not have to attend the same training series if there is a scheduling conflict. You may take the training at another county or take the next training series.

Yes. You will need to contact us for a training schedule and to make arrangements with another county.

The training classes are good for 18 months. However, you must be licensed in that 18-month time period. A home study can take up to 6 months. This means you should plan to turn in all your paperwork and be assigned for home study within 12 months in order to avoid having to retake the pre-service classes.

A foster home license is good for 2 years.

You are required to complete a certain number of hours of continuing training for each 2-year licensing period. These classes are offered free to you on a variety of topics.

Yes. We will make a case-by-case determination based on your location.

Yes. Each child must have a bed of their own. A foster child cannot share a bedroom with a child of the opposite sex, except when all children in the bedroom are under the age of five.

Yes. Birth families are entitled to visitation with their children by state law. The child’s case worker will arrange visitation, and visits take place at The Children's Center of Medina County or another agreed upon location.

Yes, you are typically permitted to take children in your care on vacation with you if you provide the child’s case worker sufficient notice along with an address and phone number where you will be.

There is no cost to becoming a foster parent.

Yes. The preservice training is now available in an all virtual format. If you prefer to take the training in person, we can help you find the options that work best for you.

We average about four adoptions a year.

Foster parents tend to adopt the children who become legally available for adoption. If there are children who are not adopted by their foster parents, we will seek out other foster parents in our network or work with Wendy's Wonderful Kids to help locate families.

We license families for foster care and approve for adoption. We do not do adoption-only home studies.

Learn about Applying for PASSS

Learn about Kinship Services