Minutes

Employment Programs Committee Meeting

August 13, 2003

•  Review Agenda, Approve Minutes and Set New Agenda Items

Present: Wayne Black, Marva Scott, Ron Byrd, Sharon Johnson, Bobbi Bales, Angela McDuffie, Terry Keene, Sandra Cox, Susan Parker, Linda Allison, Cindy Wilson, David Troutman, David Prince, David Atkinson, Steve Ramsey, Sharron Champion, Martha Miller, Angela Bruinton, Kay Seymour, Joyce Avert, Yolanda Vance, Jan Schwarty, Lisa Abel, Barbara Boyce

Conclusion: Approved minutes of June 11, 2003 meeting.

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  Food Stamps E & T Update – David Prince / NC Community College System – Barbara Boyce

Discussion:   David Prince gave an update on the E & T program.   The State is proposing to contract with the NC Community College as well as ESC.   Counties will not have a choice but will have to work with both agencies.   This is to provide services to Food Stamps E & T clients referred by department of social services in the 16 “Labor Surplus” counties in North Carolina.   This action is being taken now because the Worker Trust Training Fund is running out of money.   The contract will be from October 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.   For this year referrals would be made to county JOBLINK’s and based on an assessment, E & T clients would be served by ESC or the community college.   In this new proposal, if a client is ready for Job Search they will be referred to ESC, if not ready then the client will be referred to the Community College – HRD Program.   There is no cost for the clients to attend the classes at the community college.   The only impact on county costs (16 counties) would be for some additional transportation reimbursement as the number of weeks of participation would be increased from 6 to 8.   This will be Demonstration Project with the 16 Labor Surplus counties with the possibility of moving into other counties at a later time.   David said counties can meet with the local   HRD staff and discuss transportation.  

Barbara Boyce, Director of Human Resources Development (HRD) Program (NCCCS) presented an overview of the Career Start Project (Cycle of Service). Career Start is a statewide initiative that will empower low-income families to access and use educational and workforce development resources with the goal being to help individuals obtain and sustain employment in occupations that can pay a livable wage and offer opportunities for advancement.   This initiative will include pre-employment skills training traditionally offered through the HRD Program.   This project will provide a vital foundation and starting point that will lead individuals toward pathways as it relates to Career Awareness, Remediation, Educational Training, Employment Placements and Resource Development.   The motto of this project is “From Working Poor to Earning More.”   Barbara gave a handout of the referral process that will be used for the Food Stamps E & T Program.   Barbara said that the Job Link Center and ESC will be working hand-in-hand.  

Conclusion: The Committee made a recommendation to support a state level contract with the NC Community College System to provide services to Food Stamp E & T clients in the surplus counties.

Action Items:

•  Present recommendation to the NCACDSS Executive Board.

Person Responsible:

Wayne Black/Marva Scott

Deadline:

8/14/03

•  Work First Caseload Report – Hank Bowers

Discussion:   Hank presented information about Work First Families.   The Work First caseload in down to 40,368 in August.   This is a decrease from July 03 and the lowest to date.  

Conclusion:

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  Voter Registration Requirement – Wayne Black

Discussion: Wayne presented information received from Phyllis Fulton concerning the requirements.   The National Voting Rights Act of 1993 requires that our clients be offered the opportunity to register to vote.   Administrative rule that the declination be returned to the board of elections or kept at the department of social services, in case you are audited by federal or state authorities that randomly check to ensure agencies are offering voter registration to all clients.   You run the risk of a client suing your agency for not offering them the opportunity to register to vote.   NVRA mandates that any state agency offering a service also offer voter registration. Division of Social Services and the Division of Medical Assistance will be meeting to issue a packet of information to county department of social services.   The declination form will be included in the packet.    

Conclusion: Committee agreed that county dss could possible place a sign up informing clients that they can register to vote at the agency.   Counties will have to have a site coordinator, and it is important that we have a good relationship with the Board of Elections.

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  TANF State Plan -   Wayne Black

Discussion:   TANF State Plan has been approved by the General Assembly.   Some of the language is being fined tuned, and the sanction is being worked on.

Conclusion: The committee will be looking at policy changes.

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  EITC Update and Tax Preparation Planning – Wayne Black

Discussion:   Total Earned Income Tax Credit claims in North Carolina in 2002 was $1,259,483,124 which is an average of $1,839 per return processed.   There were 685,095 returns.   North Carolina is number seven in the USA in EITC participation.   Last year letters went out to ask local agencies to consider sponsoring a tax preparation site and to look for volunteers.   The letters went out the later part of November, which was too late.   The advice from the IRS is that we need to look at that around August & September and recruit volunteers.   Bobbi Bales (Forsyth Co.) stated that they have already started and had their first meeting in July.  

Conclusion: Recommendation is that the letters need to go out ASAP.  

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline:

•  Committee Scope of Work – Wayne Black

Discussion:   Leading by Results was discussed.   A handout was given of the six areas and measurable indicator.   Eight Leading by Results forums are scheduled during the month of August.  

Conclusion: Counties are encouraged to attend the forum to learn more about Leading by Results.

Action Items:

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Person Responsible:

Deadline: