COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio has been selected as one of five states to participate in a new federal pilot program designed to help welfare recipients overcome employment barriers and achieve self-sufficiency, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chose Ohio to test approaches aimed at promoting work and reducing government dependency, according to a news release from DeWine.

The pilot program will be administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and will focus on participants in the state’s Ohio Works First program, which provides short-term assistance to low-income families through federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funding.

Under the pilot, Ohio will gain greater flexibility to provide individualized s

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