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<br />14 <br /> <br />c. Location: In most instances, the service will be provided either at DSS or in <br />the recipient's home. <br /> <br />11. Advocacy <br />a. Description: There have consistently been problems with Work First families <br />either making bad choices or allowing landlords or collectors to place them in <br />a position of having to either vacate a residence or give up some possession. It <br />is extremely difficult to get stabilized when this is the usual scenario that <br />occurs whenever a recipient has to move or purchases a household item or car. <br />It may be that timeliness of purchases is at the heart of the issue. The recipient <br />is usually in a crisis mode and makes bad first choices. Advocacy is a most <br />appropriate and quite possibly one ofthe most beneficial services that can be <br />provided by the social workers. It will assist them in accessing appropriate <br />services in a timely manner, ensure that they have access to the highest quality <br />of service as well as fair and equal treatment, and assist them in learning to <br />advocates for themselves. Advocating for themselves is probably the most <br />beneficial thing for them that they can learn. <br />b. Provision: The service is provided by the Work First social workers. <br />c. Location: In most cases, the service will be provided at DSS. In some <br />instances it could be at the location of a debt that is owed. <br /> <br />V. Administration <br /> <br />A. Authority <br />Cabarrus County will be a Standard County for Work First Employment Services, as <br />decided by the Board of Commissioners at its July 10, 2006 meeting. The Cabarrus <br />County Board of Commissioners has delegated the authority to operate the program <br />to the Director of the Department of Social Services. The Board of Commissioners <br />does recognize that it is accountable for its duties under the Work First Program. <br /> <br />B. Organization <br />Cabarrus County DSS has a comprehensive system for intercepting and dealing with <br />active and potential welfare recipients. It is addressed in the following way for each <br />function listed below. <br /> <br />1. Intake: Employment Services will make appointments; provide orientation, <br />screen and initiate potential recipients through the New Focus effort in Cabarrus <br />County. That is, when a potential Work First recipient requests cash assistance at <br />the reception area, they are scheduled for an orientation. A potential Work First <br />recipient would include a household where there is a parent who is head of <br />household and is required to participate in Employment Services. It does not <br />include 'child only' cases or cases where illegal immigrants are the head of <br />household. After the orientation, they are seen by an Employment social worker, <br />where they are assessed for needs and provided short-term services, when <br />appropriate, to avoid an application for inappropriate cash assistance. Presently <br />approximately 49% of potential applicants are diverted. The potential recipient is <br /> <br />'f- \1 <br />