County Keeps Refugee Job Services Running as Federal Aid Shrinks

Published on October 01, 2026

Franklin County Board of Commissioners | Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services

Over the past two years, three Franklin County partner agencies helped 745 refugees find jobs. On September 29, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners moved to keep that work going as federal support for refugee programs shrinks. 

The first of two companion resolutions authorizes the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) to accept the state's Refugee Support Services (RSS) subgrant for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 (Res. 0631-26). The second sends $395,582 in state and county dollars to four resettlement partners (Res. 0632-26). 

This year's state subgrant is $195,582. Last program year, JFS received more than $1.6 million from the state for RSS. Carmen Barnes, Chief Operating Officer of JFS, told the Board the new amount falls short of historic funding levels. The Board added $200,000 in county general revenue to help close the gap. 

Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS), Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), and Jewish Family Services will each receive about $125,341. US Together, Inc. will receive $19,558.20. Barnes said the county dollars keep trained staff and employer relationships in place so the agencies do not have to rebuild from scratch. 

Franklin County is the only county in Ohio that receives RSS award dollars, according to JFS. It runs the program for seven Central Ohio counties: Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union. Refugees who arrived in the United States within the past five years can get workplace English instruction, job placement help, and job retention services. Placements have averaged a starting wage of $17.63 an hour, according to a 2025 JFS program summary. US Together has served more than 80 refugee women surviving gender-based violence over the past two years. 

Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce called the partners up and asked where the county could invest more. Angie Plummer, Executive Director of CRIS, said her agency lost staff over a difficult 18 months. 

"There is nothing more joyful than seeing a brand-new comer make it," Plummer said. "With a little bit of support, they can go a long way." 

Tariq Mohamed, Senior Program Manager for Jewish Family Services, arrived in the United States as a refugee himself. He told the Board that standing before them after receiving the county's support "says a lot."