[Ohio-Talk] FW: Message from Director Miller

[Smith, JW]

                Please see the message below my signature from OOD Director Miller.

From: shirley.marchi at ood.ohio.gov <shirley.marchi at ood.ohio.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 6:47 AM
To: Carolyn Peters <dr.carolyn.peters at gmail.com>; Matt Sauer <matthew.sauer at uc.edu>; David.Baker at education.ohio.gov; shauna.dowdy at ood.ohio.gov; jegerhardt9 at gmail.com; margie.hegg at gmail.com; Lisa Hickman <lisah at ocecd.org>; Andrea Kramer <akramer at cityapparel.net>; carlo at loparopr.com; Alison McKay <amckay at disabilityrightsohio.org>; kevin.miller at ood.ohio.gov; johnmoore at dsc.org; Peter Moore <PMoore at opra.org>; Jeremy Morris <jmorris at ohiosilc.org>; Smith, JW <smithj at ohio.edu>; Karis Spence <Karis.Spence at huntington.com>
Cc: Kim.Jump at ood.ohio.gov
Subject: Message from Director Miller

Please read the following message from Director Miller.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Dear Council Members,

I hope you are all doing well. I want to let you know that the April 15th OOD Council Meeting has been postponed.  Please know that we are here for you. We are in trying times, but my commitment to you is to remain open and direct with information that impacts OOD.

I know Shirley has been keeping you updated with communication from the Governor's Office, etc.  I have asked her to continue to keep you in the loop.

As you are probably aware, Governor DeWine, at his March 23, 2020 press conference, charged state agencies with looking at their budgets and reducing by as much as 20%.

In response, my leadership team is carefully evaluating where we can decrease discretionary spending. We are assessing contracts and other purchases. While essential functions will continue, expansion of programs (ex. OOD Jobs for Recovery expanding to new locations) is now on hold. In line with the Governor's direction, we have suspended travel, new hires, and new contract obligations.
At this time, there are no plans for a lay-off. Reducing our spending is a strategic step to maintain financial stability so that we can continue to empower Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence.

In addition, the Division of Employer and Innovation Services (EIS) has created a new tool called the Urgent Jobs List to support OOD job seekers who are interested in obtaining employment with an essential business, like a supermarket, pharmacy, warehouse, or distribution center. Our Business Relations Specialists have been reaching out to those employers so that we can be a resource to help them meet their urgent hiring needs.

Please feel free to reach out to Shirley if you have any questions. We are all in this together.

Sincerely,

Kevin L. Miller
OOD Director