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Minutes Employment Programs Committee Meeting April 7, 2004
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• Review Agenda, Approve Minutes and Set New Agenda Items |
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Present: Wayne Black, Marva Scott, Karen Heffner, Linda Allison, Johnice Tabron, Cindy Wilson, David Troutman, Alecia Williamson, Barbara Harris, Angela McDuffie, Pat Spears, Ron Byrd, Mildred Page, Nancy Brandt, Martha Miller, Denise Shipman, Tania Segers, Carla McNeill, Algernon McKenzie, Sara Mims, Yolanda Vance, Susan Thompson.
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Conclusion: Approved minutes of March 10, 2004 meeting.
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Action Items: N/A • |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline: |
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Work First Caseload Report – Marva Scott |
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Discussion: Marva said there is not a significant change in the Work First numbers. The total number of families in April is 37,857 a decrease by 41 from March 2004 figures. Two-parent cases increased by 38 for the month of April. Benefit diversion increased by 279 in April. 0 parent cases down by 108 but still at 56% of caseload. |
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Conclusion:
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Action Items: N/A • N/A |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline:
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CAREER START Program Update – David Prince
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Discussion: David Prince was not present to give an update. Marva Scott stated that Columbus County is one of the labor surplus counties. She stated they began on March 10, 2004 and everything appears to be going well. They have not heard any negative comments. There was some discussion from the committee as to if this is something all counties will eventually do. A committee member wanted to know how the counties would coordinate the food stamp side with the clients on Work First who have failed contracts.
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Conclusion: David Prince to give an update at the next meeting.
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Action Items: N/A • |
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Development of Memorandum of Agreement Between DSS & Vocational Rehabilitation – Sara Mims |
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Discussion: Sara stated, the subcommittee first meeting that went very well. Another meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2004 . David Troutman (Randolph Co.) attended this subcommittee and felt they received a broad spectrum of what VR & DSS from the state level and county level were doing and there was lots of interaction. He said some specific issues were incentives, county feeling “road blocked” when their clients visit VR counselors and the clients do not want to participate. Sara stated, they are still struggling over the issue of wages (pay check) clients receive when they are in the community rehabilitation program/workshop, whether those are to be counted as wages or incentives. VR sees this as an incentive. Sara said more clarification is needed on how to count this money. She said they are on track to have their work done by the end of the fiscal year. |
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Conclusion: Clarification is needed on VR payments to Work First clients.
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Action Items: N/A • |
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Other Old Business - Wayne Black |
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Discussion: Wayne shared with the committee that the Executive Board of the Director's Association approved a recommendation from the Advocacy Committee in terms of the legislative agenda for this session. The language voted on which spoke to Work First said that one of the items we would do would be to lobby and advocate that the block grant funds would continue to come to the counties. The second item was that we would look into increasing the standard of need for Work First Cash Assistance. It was the agreement of the Advocacy Committee, NCSSA, Employment Programs Committee, as well as approval from the Director's Association Executive Board, that we “table” consideration of an increase of cash assistance this year. The communication from Employment Programs Committee and others was that our priority is day care money and we need to look at funding for day care first. Wayne stated he received communications from other directors who supported this decision. He stated that past chair of the Employment Programs Committee, Ann Hamilton, recommended that perhaps as an alternative to pursuing an increase in the standard of need, Earned Income Tax Credit for the state and an increase in the minimum wage. The Executive Board recommended that we seek a study of the standard of need. It was last increased in 1987, so we need to know the following: What is that amount worth now? What will be the ramifications of increasing it? What would be the impact on our block grant and what are the pros and cons for future reference? Wayne said, there would not be any effort as part of our legislative goals for this year to increase it. |
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Conclusion:
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Action Items: N/A • |
Person Responsible:
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Partial – Month Inclusion in Participation Rate- Denise Shipman |
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Discussion: Denise reviewed the question from the last meeting. Does the state have to report actual hours for participation or may they report required scheduled hours of participation? Denise referenced the Administration of Children & Families (ACF) under the TANF Data Reporting section Q 42 which states, “ The state must report the actual hours of participation for each work activity record and required or scheduled hours of participation if inconsistent with the complete and accurate standard and is not acceptable.” Denise also spoke with Robyn Register and she stated that this question has been posed to them before and they have the capability but have not programed the system yet. A committee member stated that it is okay to count the actual hours, but the system won't accept actual hours. The client does meet the participation requirements when they work a partial month and are only eligible for a partial month. She went on to say they have been told to “bump” the hours up if they work to whatever the monthly requirement amount would be, so that it would count for them as meeting program requirements. After much discussion, Wayne clarified the question. Sara Mims will work on this so that all counties will be doing the same thing. This will be discussed at the June meeting.
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Conclusion:
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Action Items: N/A • |
Person Responsible:
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Reallocation of Domestic Violence Funds - Sara Mims |
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Discussion: Sara said, this is being worked on between Sherry Bradsher and Jo Ann Lamm. A committee member mentioned last year counties were given $5,000 up front to do contracts and later had to amend their contracts when additional funding was received. The question was asked if there is anyway to get this together so that counties would just have to do contracts once. It was stated that some counties money came too late for them to spend. A committee member stated they are a small county. The first year they received funds they were not able to spend all of it. The next year they got less, but were told to go ahead and spend quickly and in January, there would be a reallocation from counties not spending, so they would have additional funding to carry them through the fiscal year. This county is out of money and no additional allocation was received. They still have a need and no money.
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Conclusion: Sara Mims will take this information back to Jo Ann.
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Action Items: N/A • |
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Congressional Action on Extension and Reauthorization of TANF Block Grant - Wayne Black |
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Discussion:. Wayne stated, the old Welfare Reform Act has been extended through June 30, 2004. Sara Mims read an update on TANF Reauthorization from Sharnese Ransome from Washington DC. By a vote of 51-47, the Senate on April 1, 2004 failed to approve a cloture motion which would have limited debate on the welfare reauthorization bill (H.R. 4) and blocked consideration of a Democratic amendment to raise the federal minimum wage. The most recent temporary finding extension for welfare programs expires June 30, 2004. The Senate approved (by a vote of 78-20) an amendment by Senator Snowe & Dodd to increase funding for child care in the bill by an extra $6 billion over five years. Senator Dole & Edwards also voted for this.
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Conclusion: Counties are encouraged to send letters of thanks to Senators Dole & Edwards for their support.
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Action Items: N/A • |
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Report of Wilson County Presentation to National Association of Counties Conference - Susan Parker |
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Discussion: Susan was not present so a report will be given at the June meeting.
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Conclusion:
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Action Items: N/A • |
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General Discussion – Wayne Black |
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Discussion: Policy Changes – Wayne stated the matter of policy changes came before the Director's Association Executive Committee. Concerns have been raised about potential financial impact on local DSS on some recent policy changes. Theses changes were mostly reflected policy changes in Children's Services. At the March board meeting of the Director's Association, the board voted to request the Department of Health and Human Services and its Division include a fiscal note in any proposed policy change that would impact county department of social services. • Work First Interview Booklet – The question was asked about the status of the Work First Interview booklet that was in draft last year and was suppose to be printed in January 2004. Sara Mims will follow-up on this. • “How Work Pays” - Wayne distributed a sheet titled “Income Progression of Wages, Work First & Food Stamps.” This sheet will show families the benefits after going off Work First. Wayne said this sheet would have to be updated annually, but it is a good tool. This may be something Sara's staff could work on. • Leading By Results – A few counties shared how Work First is working with LBR. • Multiple Response System (MRS) - Catawba County shared how Work First is a part of MRS in their county. Their Work First staff will be attending MRS training in May. Sara said it is important for directors to send their Work First staff to training along with the Child Welfare staff. A MRS meeting was held last week with the 10 original counties plus the new 42 counties. The Work First Rep's were present and counties sent Work First staff. Sara said monthly meetings are held in the West & East and she encouraged Work First staff and Child Welfare staff to attend together. • Children's Services Minutes – A copy of the Children's Services minutes were distributed to the committee.
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Conclusion: Due to the Director's Annual Meeting in May, the Employment Programs Committee's next meeting will be June 9, 2004
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Action Items:N/A • |
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