HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-19-2000-8fORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 19, 2000
Action Age~d~
Item No.
SUBJECT: Coun Work First Designation
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martin Whitt, Ext. 2858
Gwen Price, Ext. 2885
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To decide whether or not to request a standard program or an electing program
designation for Orange County's Work First activities.
BACKGROUND: Work First is North Carolina's cash assistance program for low-income
families and is funded by the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block
grant, state, and county moneys. North Carolina General Statue 10$A-27 requires county
commissioners to decide whether a county wants to be standard or electing and the
appointment of local leaders to assist in the development of the county Work First Plan. In
1997, counties developed the first biennial Work First Block Grant plans. On October 21,
1997, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted for a standard Work First
designation. In December 1997, the 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.
In North Carolina, twenty~ne counties were designated electing status and the remaining 79
are standard. Electing counties are able to set all of their own Work First policies, including
eligibility criteria and benefit levels. Standard counties follow a uniform set of Work First
policies set by the legislature and have maximum flexibility in designing services.
This fall, all counties must decide whether to become or remain standard or electing for the
next two years. The county designation must be reported to the NC Division of Social
Services by September 24, 2000. Each county will then develop a Work First Block Grant
Plan to be adopted by the county commissioners. Orange County has begun the process of
developing a new Work First Block Grant Plan. In July 1999, the Board of Commissioners
anticipated the need to formulate a new Plan and reconvened the Welfare Reform Task
Force. The initial Plan was effective July 1998-June 2000. In an effort to synchronize the
County and State planning process, the state has extended the cun'ent county plans for one
additional year. Orange County's current plan will extend through June 30, 2001.
The Social Services Board voted on August 15, 2000, to recommend to the Board of
Commissioners that Orange County request a standard designation. The Social Services
Board shares the opinion that standard designation allows for flexibility in services and
innovative strategies for transitioning families from welfare to work.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The county would receive the TANF block grant and other funds as
part of either designation; therefore, the choice ofi one designation over the other has no
financial impact.
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the Standard
program designation status for Work First for the County.