HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-23-2007-5mORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 23, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. 5--m
SUBJECT: Time-Limited Positions for Work First Pilot
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Coston, 245-2802
PURPOSE: To consider establishing four time-limited positions using Work First pilot funds to
provide intensive services to Work First participants.
BACKGROUND: The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated some of the available
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support local pilot projects to
enhance the participation rates of Work First recipients. Changes in federal rules are
expected to make it difficult for local agencies to meet the required federal participation rates.
The pilot projects must be used in a way to increase these participation rates.
Participation rates are determined by the number of recipients who complete 30 hours per
week of allowable activities. Most of the allowable activities are short-term training, community
work experience, on-the-job training, employment or subsidized employment. Orange County
is not currently meeting the required 50% participation rate for all parents who are not either
disabled or have a child under the age of one. As the number of recipients has declined it has
become more difficult for the agency to meet the federal requirements since many of the
current recipients have complex issues and multiple barriers to employment.
In November 2006, the Board of County Commissioners accepted grant funds for this fiscal
year in the amount of $270,838. There is no local match required, and if the pilot project is
meeting its stated goals, then the funds can be continued for two more years.
The plan approved for Orange County provides funds to increase its on-the-job training
components with employers, to provide job coaches for targeted participants, to provide work
incentives for successful participants and to provide subsidized employment opportunities.
In order to manage this program, Social Services is requesting that four time-limited positions
be created using pilot funds. Two positions would be Community Social Services Technicians
and would provide one-on-one coaching as well as transportation for clients to attend various
facets of the program. A Human Services Coordinator would work to develop jobs with
employers and would manage the on-the-job training component with these employers. A
fourth position would provide case management and counseling to participants. The positions
would end in June 2009, the end of the grant period.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of these positions including all benefits will be paid with pilot
project funds. Persons employed in these positions will be informed that their employment.is
contingent on the continued receipt of the grant funds. No county funds are being requested
for these services.
2
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board create four time-limited
positions utilizing Work First pilot funds and designate that the positions are effective until the
end of the grant period, June 2009.