Ohio Code § 5101.315

§ 5101.315.

(A) Any nonprofit agency or organization seeking designation as a community action agency

by the department of job and family services shall obtain the endorsement of the chief

elected officials of at least two-thirds of the municipal corporations and the counties

within the community to be served by the agency or organization. (B) Any nonprofit agency or organization that receives the endorsement provided for in

division (A) of this section shall be designated by the department as the community

action agency for the community it serves and shall receive community services block

grant funds for any period of time that the nonprofit agency or organization: (1) Provides a range of services and opportunities having a measurable and potentially

major impact on the causes of poverty in the community or those areas of the community

where poverty is a particularly acute problem.  These activities may include but shall not be limited to: (a) Providing activities designed to assist low-income persons, including low-income

persons who are elderly and who have disabilities, to: (i) Secure and maintain meaningful employment, training, work experience, and unsubsidized

employment; (ii) Attain an adequate education; (iii) Make better use of available income; (iv) Obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable living environment; (v) Obtain emergency assistance through loans or grants to meet immediate and urgent

individual and family needs, including the need for health services, nutritious food,

housing, and employment-related assistance; (vi) Remove obstacles and solve personal and family problems that block the achievement

of self-sufficiency; (vii) Achieve greater participation in the affairs of the community; (viii) Undertake family planning, consistent with personal and family goals and religious

and moral convictions; (ix) Obtain energy assistance, conservation, and weatherization services. (b) Providing, on an emergency basis, supplies and services, nutritious foodstuffs, and

related services necessary to counteract conditions of starvation and malnutrition

among low-income persons; (c) Coordinating and establishing links between government and other social services

programs to assure the effective delivery of services to low-income individuals; (d) Providing child care services, nutrition and health services, transportation services,

alcoholism and narcotic addiction prevention and rehabilitation services, youth development

services, and community services to persons who are elderly and who have disabilities; (e) Encouraging entities in the private sector to participate in efforts to ameliorate

poverty in the community. (2) Annually submits to the department a program plan and budget for use of community

services block grant funds for the next federal fiscal year.  At least ten days prior to its submission to the department, a copy of the program

plan and budget shall be made available to the chief elected officials of the municipal

corporations and counties within the service area in order to provide them the opportunity

to review and comment upon such plan and budget. (3) Composes its board of directors in compliance with the “Community Services Block

Grant Act,” 42 U.S.C. 9910 , except that the board shall consist of not less than fifteen nor more than thirty-three

members; (4) Complies with the prohibitions against discrimination and political activity, as

provided in the “Community Services Block Grant Act”; (5) Complies with fiscal and program requirements established by department rule.