MANSFIELD — One of Lori Bedson’s final acts as the leader of Richland County Job & Family Services was to announce her own successor.
That moment came Tuesday morning when Richland County commissioners officially hired Shayne Oehlhof Sankoe as the next director of RCJFS.
The 53-year-old Sankoe, who grew up in Richland County and graduated from Shelby High School, takes over the position on Monday. She has lived in Ontario for the past 10 years.
Bedson, a 27-year local JFS employee who has led the agency since accepting the top spot in 2022, was the first to welcome Sankoe during the meeting with commissioners.
“We’re very pleased that you’re interested in the position and willing to take on this responsibility,” Bedson said.
Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears credited Commissioner Darrell Banks for leading a “long, protracted search” for Bedson’s replacement.
“We’re glad we hit the top shelf with this one,” Mears said.
New RCJFS leader has been working in Wayne County
Sankoe, who will be paid $115,000 annually, has been the director of the Wayne County Child Support Enforcement Agency, a division of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
An attorney, she joined the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in May 2018 as the supervising assistant prosecuting attorney for the CSEA. Shayne was promoted to director in November 2019.
Sankoe has been responsible for the administration of nearly 6,000 family support cases and the distribution of more than $13 million per year in support collections.
Before accepting the Wayne County position, Sankoe served as the attorney/administrator for Morrow County Job and Family Services/Office of Child Support and as staff attorney for Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
Additionally, she spent more than 10 years in private practice in Medina, serving as a guardian ad litem and counsel in both juvenile and domestic relations matters.
Sankoe earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology/corrections from the University of Akron and later her law degree from UA in May 2001.
“Shayne brings more than 25 years of legal, public administration, and human services experience to this role,” said Richland County Administrator Andrew Keller.
“Throughout her career, Shayne led complex public sector operations, oversaw budgets, ensured regulatory compliance and developed programs that improve services for children and families.”
He said Sankoe is committed to collaborative leadership, accountability and strengthening services that support the well-being and self-sufficiency of Richland County families.
Sankoe career began as juvenile probation officer
Sankoe said Tuesday she began her career as a juvenile probation officer.
“I then went to law school and began a private practice and felt a calling and really liked the (family) services. I am just so excited to be here in Richland County. I moved back here about 10 years ago.
“I look forward to working with community leaders, with the dedicated staff of the agency and being able to provide excellent customer service and services to members of our community to help them to reach self-sufficiency,” Sankoe said.
She said one of her first priorities in her new role is “to learn as much as possible from Lori and all of the knowledge and experience that she has,” as well as getting to know agency employees and the challenges they are facing.
RCJFS operates primarily on federal and state grant allocations passed through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, rather than relying heavily on the local county general fund.
These state and federal pass-through grants fluctuate continuously based on program enrollment, caseloads, and block grants (for SNAP, Medicaid administration, TANF, child care subsidies and workforce development programs).
She will also look at performance measurements provided by the state.
“So we will look be looking at reports, reports, reports and figuring out how can we tweak things, how can we utilize the desk dates and the training and the staff that we have, but not burn them out. It’s a tough balance,” Sankoe said.
“I am really looking forward to the partnership with the board (of commissioners). Working with all three of them and also the county administrator, I think that they’ll be able to provide us more support and than I am used to,” she said.
Sankoe said she will also examine agency efforts in helping low-income or displaced workers overcome barriers like transportation, childcare and skills training.
“The first thing I would need to do is assess the current programs and what we are providing to the community. (I will) look to see if there are any gaps in services and just collaborating with community partners, and looking at leadership at the agency and seeing what we need to do,” she said.
Commissioners praise the work of outgoing director
Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero praised Bedson for her work.
“She has tried to retire twice, and you can quote me on this, we wouldn’t let her retire. She ushered the agency through a transition period when we changed directors. She wanted to retire and we wouldn’t let her.
“Shayne knocked it out of the park in our interview. But also we asked Laurie if she’d stay another decade. It has been an absolute honor to work with her and we wouldn’t have been able to find Shayne (without Bedson), because it took us a while,” Vero said.
“(Lori) wanted to make sure that we had the right person in place and we certainly found her,” Vero said.
Banks also praised Bedson.
“We are very grateful and, myself in particular very grateful, because it’s been a long few years here and we really appreciate you sticking around,” Banks said.
