On Sept. 12 the Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved a package of contract extensions and a related subgrant to fund health and human services programs using federal TANF and Title 20 Social Services Block Grant funds.

County Job and Family Services staff summarized seven contracts that together represent about $1.8 million in TANF-funded activity for federal year 2026 and related Title 20 awards. The services covered include emergency shelter and advocacy for domestic-violence survivors (Safe Harbor Corp), guardianship services for adults without family (Beyond Guardianship), information and referral services through United Way 211, mentoring and tutoring services for TANF-eligible children (Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and Tower Educational Consulting Group), and a childcare recruitment/pre-licensing system (Child Care Resource Center).

Votes approving each extension were recorded by the board. County staff noted that 2-1-1 received 1,139 calls in July alone, underlining local demand for the referral service supported by United Way.

Board actions recorded on the agenda included:
- A subgrant and groom (sic) between JFS and the Lorain County Children and Family First Council for $370,000 for case management and mentoring (FY26 TANF). The board approved the subgrant.
- An agreement with Beyond Guardianship Services for $50,244 for protective services for adults (Title 20). Approved by the board.
- An extension for United Way 2-1-1 not-to-exceed $39,387 (Title 20). Approved by the board.
- Amendments extending Boys & Girls Club contract (not-to-exceed $350,000, TANF) and Tower Educational Consulting Group (not-to-exceed $317,000, TANF). Both approved.
- An amendment extending the Child Care Resource Center contract, not to exceed $30,000, for recruitment and pre-licensing (paid from childcare non-administration funds).

County staff asked the board to consider the seven agreements as a package and described the services and their preventative aims; a JFS representative asked whether commissioners wanted the items voted together or individually and proceeded with a group presentation. The board approved the items by voice vote. Staff indicated the contracts will be paid from the accounts specified on the agenda (TANF, Title 20, childcare accounts) and gave no indication of county matching requirements beyond those shown on the agenda.

Commissioners asked for and received brief details about program scope; no additional funding was requested from county general revenues during the votes.