HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-20-2009 - 4pORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 20, 2009
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ - p
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Funds for Work First Subsidized Employment
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
N/A Nancy Coston, 245-2800
PURPOSE: To accept federal funds to support short term employment for Work First recipients
and to approve use of temporary positions for the employees.
BACKGROUND: As part of the recovery efforts by the federal government, emergency TANF
(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funds have been made available to states. The
North Carolina Division of Social Services recently asked counties who were interested to
submit proposals for use of these funds. Orange County submitted a request for $450,000 in
federal funds and has recently been informed that this grant will probably be received in the next
few weeks. The program requires 20% in local match. The proposal was for employees to work
in government or non-profit agencies.
The Orange County proposal includes ten temporary employees working at Social Services with
a supervisor whose salary will provide the match for these employees. Ten additional positions
were requested and those match funds could be provided by county temporary staff funds,
through other County provided match, or through funds identified by other agencies and non-
profits. The jobs must end on or before September 30, 2010.
The participants must be custodians of minor children and must have an income below 200% of
poverty. The Department of Social Services (DSS) anticipates that many of the positions will be
utilized in clerical, custodian or related areas but will depend on the needs of the employing
agencies and the skills of the Work First clients. Social Services has operated subsidized
employment as well as community work experience programs for many years and has staff
available to assess the skills of potential participants and match them with appropriate
worksites. Since the applicants must meet financial and other eligibility factors, it is requested
that all recruitment and selection activities occur at DSS. Priority for employment will be given
to the graduates of the current Work First training program since these individuals have already
been assessed and meet all of the grant criteria. Efforts to identify other County agencies and
non-profit organizations that would like to participate as employers will begin immediately.
Given the enormous need for employment opportunities and the short duration of this grant, the
Department of Social Services is requesting the authority to implement the employment program
as soon as the funds are available.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be no additional County costs for this program as budgeted
funds will be used for the match. The assessments and management of the program will be
provided by existing staff.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the acceptance
of funds from the North Carolina Division of Social Services and that the Board authorize the
Director of Social Services to utilize up to twenty temporary positions for employment through
September 30, 2010.