Director of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) resigns

Helen Jones-Kelley, the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services director who was suspended after the release of a critical inspector general’s report, resigned her position this week. Ms. Jones-Kelley was suspended from her post because of questions about her involvement in database searches. Also resigning their positions were Assistant Director Fred Williams and Director of Child Support Doug Thompson. Mr. Williams has resigned effective Jan. 31 to provide enough time to help in the transition to new management, she said. Mr. Thompson’s position has been “revoked” effective Dec. 22.

The situation involving searches of the databases involved Samuel Wurzelbacher, who came to be known as “Joe the Plumber,” in the media. These activities have caused legislators in Ohio to enact legislation that creates penalties for improper use of state databases.