HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-19-2004-5jORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 19, 2004
Action Agenda
Item No. __
SUBJECT: Work First County Plan for 2005-2007
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Summary of Proposed Work First Plan
Recommendations
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Coston, Ext. 2800
Gwen Price, Ext. 2885
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
PURPOSE: Ta approve the proposed Work First Plan for 2005-2007 as developed by the
planning committee appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
BACKGROUND: Work First is North Carolina's cash assistance and support program for low-
income families and is funded by the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) block grant, state, and county funds, In December 1997, Orange County's first Work
First Block Grant Plan was submitted to the NC Division of Social Services outlining the
county's strategies for the implementation of Work First. The plan was last updated in 2002
and must be updated every two year. The plan for 2005-2007 is to be submitted to State
Division of Social Services by November 1, 2004,
On August 17, 2004, the Board of Commissioners appointed a planning committee to develop
the new plan, The committee, chaired by Dianne Reid, met several times to discuss the
current initiatives and to make recommendations far needed changes, Based on the input
from the planning committee, the plan has been revised and submitted for the required public
comment period, Although Orange County has developed effective ways to address some of
the identified needs, there are still significant barriers for families trying to become financially
self-sufficient, The attached document outlines the needs and strategies discussed by the
planning committee and the entire plan has been available to the committee and the public„
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The plan itself has no financial impact on Orange County. However,
since Orange County currently spends all of its available Work First funding, implementing any
new recommendations could require additional funds,
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the plan as
proposed by the planning committee,
a
IV. Plans to Achieve the Outcomes and Goals
Activities and Supportive Services
Employment and Training Action Plan
Objective 1: To establish a partnership with area employers that will strengthen
employer involvement in the Work First Program.
a. Educate employers about the Work First program, and participant needs
and strengths
b. Gather data from employers regarding their workforce needs, hiring
processes, mentoring programs, and on-the-job training programs
c. Develop career exploration opportunities and apprenticeship programs for
families
d, Develop a relationship with local employers to offer practice interview
sessions with Work First participants
e, Offer financial incentives to employers to reduce employer risk when
hiring Work First participants
£ Provide financial incentives for participants during work experience and
other training programs that covers cost associated with working
g. Work with both chambers of commerce and Economic Development
Commission to encourage employers to allow for' staff development,
including time off for employees to improve literacy skills
h. Participate in economic development strategic planning
i, Advocate for a living wage
j, Market Work First Program and recognize employers who have developed
a positive relationship, involve chambers
k. Continue to work on realistic action steps for helping families obtain
employment based on economic conditions
Objective 2: To provide training programs that will increase the employability of
Work First Participants and their ability to locate and maintain employment.
a. Develop a structured employment preparation program leading to a
certificate of completion
b. Offer vocational skills training to Work First participants
c. Continue faith community partnering program
d, Collaborate with Wheels for Work and driver's training program
e. Collaborate with community agencies and make referrals as appropriate
f, Develop,job coaching and mentoring programs for hard to place
participants
g, Provide intensive employment services for the hardest to serve
participants which includes vocational assessment, job placement, and
follow-up
h„ Offer incentives for participants working on General Equivalency
Diploma (GED) and encourage employers to hire participants working on
their diploma
i. Ensure participants have a awareness of transportation resources
3
j. Advocate for the needs of participants tluough public forums and poverty
forums in an effort to gain community support on issues
k, Research early drop-off childcare issue. Explore using other centers
Family Well Being Action Plan
Objective 3: To develop intervention strategies that enhances the ability of Work
First participants to meet the basic physical, social, educational, health, and
economic needs of their families,
a, Housing (Services must meet the federal definition of assistance)
• Develop a pilot housing fund for Work First participants, Priority will be given to
those transitioning from programs such as Project Homestazt, Horizons and family
violence shelters
^ Work collaboratively with other agencies and task forces taking the lead role on
housing issues, especially issues surrounding subsidized rental housing
b. Financial Literacy
^ Provide more financial education and counseling to low-income families
^ Involve entire family in budgeting process, pazticularly teenagers
^ Assist with the grant applications seek creative funding for increasing financial
literacy
^ Use the Money Smazt Program at the Skills Development Center
c. Substance Abuse and Mental Health
^ Make referrals based on Work First screening and assessment
^ Partner with agencies to ensure pazticipant needs aze being met, especially in relation
to outpatient hours of operation to accommodate working families
d, Physical Health
^ Monitor well-baby checks and immunizations
^ Make referrals, as needed
e, Family Violence
^ Make referrals based on Work First screening and assessment
^ Partner with other community agencies to ensure participant needs are met
f: Retention and Follow Up
^ Explore options for retention and follow up, to build on and add to programs like
Horizons
g. Child Support
^ Partner with and work collaboratively with Child Support Enforcernent Agency
^ Make referrals to CSE agency as needed, and work to ensure that Work First
participants understand the importance of a court order for child support
h. Life Coping and Management Skills
^ Communication and conflict resolution
^ Understanding self
Creating health relationships
^ Relationship counseling for two-parent families and others as needed
i. Available cash flow for participant expenses such as identification cards,
and criminal record checks
Objective 4: To provide individualized case management services that ensure
the safety and development of children.,
a. Connect Families Io Parenting
^ Explore the possibility of teaching parenting skills that relate to support of child
throughout elementary and secondary school years.
^ Encourage parents to become comfortable working within the school system to
address problems that may arise and to become an advocate for their child's needs..
b. Child-Only Cases
• Discuss recommendation from survey with Child Welfare Staff
^ Develop a plan for kinship care cases
• Offer tutoring and enrichment activities for children
c.. Child care
^ Encourage parents to become a partner with their childcare provider, in an attempt to
put parents in the role of a school involved parent
^ Explore the possibility of faith-based teams becoming involved as mentors in this
regard
^ Identify family mentoring programs that maybe currently available and determine
gaps in services
^ Provide resources to cover the cost of caze while participants are looking for work
^ Identify a strategy to help parents with the cost associated with outstanding balance
on parent fees
^ Offer scholarships for' school age children
^ Continue current subsidy programs
^ Advocate far' additional subsidy for low-income families
^ Develop individualized plans for parents with special child care needs
^ Ensure the DSS Board committee on child care looks at some of these issues
d. Transportation
^ Develop individualized transportation plans for participants
^ Coordinate with the Wheels for Work Program for car donations and vehicle
donations
^ Participate in the development of the Orange County Transportation Plan
^ Research endowment and grant writing to develop a,job couching/ transportation aide
^ Identify funds to assist with the first month of car insurance for working families
e. Other supportive services
• Expand services to teens which includes pregnancy prevention and parenting
^ Provide emergency assistance for' Work First eligible families (200% FPL)
^ Provide short-term diversion assistance for' up to three months