AG 1999 09 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: NI gi'l CAROLINA Frank Clix~on, County Manag~//~~ ~ ~ Jim CoOk, Social Services Di tfeg&q~ ~/ J 9-13-99 [ / Work First Program Plan Amendment~,~/ I am writing to ask that the Board of Commissioners approve the attached Amendment to Cabarrus County's 1998-2000 Work First Program Plan at its meeting of September 20. New provisions relating to the Work First Program enacted in the last session of the General Assembly led to a requirement that all counties submit updates to the County Work First Block Grant Plans first submitted by boards of county commissioners in February, 1998. To strengthen efforts to prevent welfare dependency and recidivism, General Assembly has modified the Work First Program primarily to provide counties the option of providing: 1) services similar to Cabarrus County's JOBS for Dads Program for non-custodial parents with child support obligations, 2) certain crisis and other preventive services to families with children at income levels up to 200% of the poverty level, and 3) one-time cash assistance under Emergency Assistance Program to families at up to 200% of the poverty level as compared to the current 110% limit. We have marked the plan amendment to provide both options and to increase the income limit for Emergency Assistance. The JTPA Program under which JOBS for Dads was funded was eliminated this year. Our program had been successful in helping about 75% of clients served to attain employment and to thus be able to meet their child support obligations more effectively. This service is already budgeted this year. This. amendment will simply change the funding source, with no significant overall impact upon revenues. With regard to the provision of certain crisis and preventive services to families at incomes to 200% of the poverty level, the existing plan provides for services to 150%, provided the family is a former recipient of welfare. We would not anticipate any sizeable increase in families served or in costs. We would, however, like the option of providing services to such families if needed. Finally, the current Emergency Assistance Program for families specifies income limits of 110%o of the poverty level. We have marked the plan to increase the income limit to only 150%, again to provide the flexibility of responding to needs at that level. Only 64% of the $104,000 budgeted to this program last year was needed. The same amount is budgeted for the current year. We do not believe the increase in the income eligibility limit will greatly impact costs. If the Board approves this amendment, it would need to be signed by the Chairman. Thank you for your help. Please let me know if more information is needed. Department of Social Services 1303 South Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis, NC 28083 (704)9394400