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<br />OPTIONAL PLAN ELEMENTS <br /> <br />x. <br /> <br />Innovative C~unty Strategies <br /> <br />An Informed Decision About Work First and Employment <br />Due to the need to encourage work and serve Work First mandatory families with <br />employment services, Cabarrus County DSS has revamped its highly successful <br />New Focus method of diverting families from welfare to self-sufficiency. The <br />New Focus, had as its primary objective, a family assessment prior to any <br />application for assistance at DSS. Through this assessment, many needs were <br />identified, and addressed. In 65% of the cases, an application for Work First is <br />not needed. This is done so that applicants can get a clear picture of what the <br />expectations are of someone applying for Work First. <br /> <br />The New Focus system operates as follows; <br />. When a potential applicant comes to the department and requests Work First <br />on the agency fact sheet, they see eligibility Intake. If it is an adult cas,~, the <br />applicant is informed that they must do the following: <br />1. Attend an orientation session prior to applying for WFF A. They are given <br />a flier that informs them of the schedule for Orientation, which is the first <br />step in the Work First application process. <br />2. Encouraged to see an ESC Employment Consultant to complete a 1 5t Stop <br />registration after they attend Orientation. If a client is an applicant for <br />WFF A, they must complete a 1 5t Stop registration in order to apply for <br />WFF A cash benefits. <br />3. Have the opportunity to apply for Medicaid and/or Food Stamps on the <br />day they first come to the office and see a Crisis worker about any <br />program in that area. <br />. At Orientation, the applicant sees the Work First Employment social workers <br />in a group setting, and is informed about the following: <br />1. A description of the WFFA application process <br />2. A detailed description of employment services requirements, including <br />work requirements, time limits, sanctions, supportive services, <br />terminations, etc. <br />3. The benefits of becoming self-sufficient and self-supporting, discouraging <br />dependency on welfare, and emphasizing work and responsibility. <br />. As a result of Orientation, the applicant has a clear picture of the Work First <br />program at DSS, and can decide on one of two options: <br />I. Apply for WFF A and comply with employment services requirements <br />2. Not apply for WFF A and either leave or apply for Medicaid and any other <br />assistance they so choose. <br /> <br />23 <br />G-5 <br />