|
|
|
Committee: EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS Date: June 11, 2003
1. 2003 – 2004 Employment Goals : The Committee recommended the following goals:
(a) Remaining off Work First for Employment: 90%
(b) Providing All-Parent Employment Services: 80%
(c) Employment at 6-Month Retention: 60%
(d) Employment at 12-Month Retention: 50%
(e) Benefit Diversion: 13,000
(f) Employment: 9,763.
Based upon current figures only 1 county would not meet the Remaining off Work First for Employment Goal; 37 counties
would not meet the Providing All-Parent Employment Services Goal; 25 counties would not meet the Employment at 6-Month
Retention Goal and 47 counties would not meet the Employment at 12-Month Retention Goal. The delay in getting accurate
data in the ESC system may account for current performance on these latter two (2) goals.
The goal for Benefit Diversion will be 13,000 (there are 13,274 as of April, 2003). The goal for employment will be 9,763 (a
total of 13,240 have entered employment as of April, 2003).
2. Food Stamp E & T Update : Of the 100 counties, 16 are “labor surplus” counties (ABAWD’s can receive Food Stamps
for longer than 3 months; 81 are non-labor surplus counties; and 3 are Workfare counties. ESC has matching funds to continue
to perform E & T services for FY 2003 2004. The Community College System is interested in providing these E & T services.
A letter will go out to DSS Directors in the 16 “labor surplus” counties asking them to choose between ESC and the local Community College to provide E & T services for FY 2003 – 2004. ESC will continue to provide services in the 81 non-
labor surplus counties.
1. Voter Registration :
Departments of Social Services are required by Federal/State law to offer voter registration to clients of public assistance. Whether clients choose to register to vote or not, a form is to be completed and sent to the local Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections has not been receiving “decline forms” from Local Boards that have been completed at DSSs and other required community agencies. The Committee has questioned the legal requirement for the “decline form”. DSSs are requested to name a “Site Coordinator” to handle all voter registration issues. More information and clarification of expectations will be forthcoming from State DSS regarding this issue.
2. Work First Caseload : The statewide caseload dropped by 135 cases in June to 41,108 (lowest on record ).Both Adult and Child Only caseloads decreased. Benefit Diversion increased from2,194 to 2,252. The Adult caseload is 19,233 (47%) and the Child Only caseload is 21,875 (53%).
3. Healthy Marriage Initiative : The Division of Social Services and the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service will survey County DSSs and local Cooperative Extension Offices to assess current healthy marriage initiatives that are in place. A committee is meeting to make recommendations for North Carolina to seek a portion of an anticipated $20 million in Federal funds to promote healthy marriages. Bobby Boyd and Terry Keene are representing the Employment Programs Committee on this group.
4. Volunteer Tax Preparation : Counties are encouraged to identify VITA sites and volunteers for tax preparation assistance for low-income families in August. A letter from DHHS will be sent out in August. In North Carolina in 1999 a total of $920.4 million in EITC benefits were received; however, according to the General Accounting Office another $230.1 million in benefits were unclaimed.
Wayne E. Black, Co-Chair
Surry County Department of Social Services
(336) 401-8711
wayne.black@ncmail.net
